Medical Examiner and Cleveland Police hold news conference
By JAMES W. WADE III
Staff Reporter
During a news conference at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center Wednesday morning, Cleveland Deputy Chief Edward Tomba said 20-year-old Camilia Terry was charged with one count of aggravated murder.
TheClevelandmother charged in the death of her 3-year-old son found dead at a waste collection site was ordered to give a DNA sample.
Tomba said investigators obtained two search warrants following the discovery of the body – one for Terry’s home on Buckeye on Cleveland’s east side, and another for a DNA sample from Terry.
Camilia reported the boy missing from a park about 24 hours before the discovery, prompting a large investigation that involved the FBI. But doing the investigation police found a young boy matching the description of Emilliano Terry Monday night inBedford.
Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner Dr. Gilson said the DNA obtained from Camilia Terry – through either a hair sample or swab – will be used to see if there’s any relation of Camilia to the body found and it may take a few days.
The time and cause of death for the body have not yet been determined, Gilson said.
Tomba shared it’s believed the crime happened at the house, but there’s nothing glaring pointing to it as the scene. Investigators removed evidence from Terry’s home Tuesday night while executing the warrant, and detectives are combing through it to find answers in the case.
Gilson said the body found showed signs of decomposition, so a visual identification was not appropriate in this case. It’s not clear when the results of the DNA tests will come back.
Police said they’re also not sure when Emilliano was last seen alive. Detectives are talking with people in the area to see when anyone last saw the toddler.
Tomba was confident police are on the right track in this case.
"We have reason believe it was (Emilliano Terry) in that bag, we have reason to believe (Camilia Terry) was with him when something happened," said Tomba.
Tomba said Terry has obtained an attorney and gave a statement to the FBI following her arrest, but the details of her conversation with investigators are not being released.
Meanwhile, a custody hearing was held Wednesday afternoon for Terry's two other children.
