Bodies of missing mum and toddler found as boy's father accused of murder
The bodies of a mother and son who disappeared over a month ago have been found.
Authorities say the bodies of Karissa and Billy Fretwell were found on Saturday in a heavily wooded and very remote area in Yamhill County in Oregon, US.
An autopsy found the mother’s cause of death was a single gunshot to the head, while additional testing will determine how her three-year-old son died.
The woman and her son disappeared on May 13 and were reported missing on May 17.
The boy’s biological father, Michael Wolfe, was later arrested and charged with kidnapping and aggravated murder.
Court papers show Fretwell went to court to establish that the 52-year-old is Billy’s father.
A DNA test verified her claim, and Fretwell then filed a petition seeking child support.
Prior to his arrest, police analysed CCTV footage of Wolfe on the day of the pair’s disappearance while mobile phone pings placed them in the same location despite him telling police during interviews he hadn’t seen them since April 15.
A court document says surveillance video shows Wolfe leaving his workplace in a golf cart during his night shift before heading into a wooded area, US television station KATU reported.
About six hours later at 2.30am, “Michael can be seen driving the cart back to his area of work while carrying a white trash type (bag) that contains some unknown items.”
Wolfe had told investigators a recent child support hearing “did not go well” and that he had been ordered to pay Fretwell $900 (A$1300) a month.
Investigations into their deaths are ongoing.
With AP
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, download the Yahoo News app from iTunes or Google Play and stay up to date with the latest news with Yahoo’s daily newsletter. Sign up here.
