1-Year-Old Feared Dead Spotted Crawling Along Highway

Body of the infant's brother was found in a lake, and their mother was arrested
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jul 10, 2024 6:50 PM CDT
1-Year-Old Feared Dead Spotted Crawling Along Highway
This image made from video provided by KPLC shows Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Gary “Stitch” Guillory speaking at a press conference Tuesday in Lake Charles, Louisiana.   (KPLC via AP)

A Louisiana sheriff says a 1-year-old survived two days of sometimes stormy weather alone before a truck driver spotted him crawling along a roadside the day after his 4-year-old brother was found dead and his mother was arrested in Mississippi. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Gary "Stitch" Guillory said the baby had numerous bug bites but otherwise appeared to be in good condition. Autopsy reports were pending on the 4-year-old who was found Monday, Guillory said during a Tuesday news conference in Lake Charles, about 200 miles west of New Orleans. The body had been found in a lake behind an Interstate 10 welcome center near the Texas state line, the AP reports.

Authorities investigating the 4-year-old's death learned that he had last been seen Saturday with his mother, Aaliyah Jack, 25, of Lake Charles, and the 1-year-old. Fearing the 1-year-old was dead, authorities prepared Tuesday morning to search the water where the dead child was found. Then a truck driver called 911 after spotting the baby. "We look at this 1-year old as our miracle baby because he was still alive," a visibly moved Guillory said. Hurricane Beryl had struck east Texas early Monday, and the search for the child played out amid bands of intermittent, heavy rain and high wind gusts. "This kid spent two days out in the weather on the side of the highway," Guillory said. "Thank God that trucker seen him."

Jack was arrested Monday night in Meridian, Mississippi, more than 350 miles from where her children were found. She was to be extradited to Louisiana, where she faced a charge of failure to report a missing child. A Louisiana judge had set bond at $300,000, Guillory said. Kayla Vincent, a spokeswoman for the sheriff, said that no other charges were pending as of Wednesday afternoon, per the AP, and that the investigation was continuing.

(More missing child stories.)

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