Remains of 2-year-old found in suitcase

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA - April 29, 2008 When police from Baltimore and Philadelphia converged on a shed behind a Philadelphia Housing Authority unit on 13th Street, they found what they expected: something ghastly.

Authorities found a large suitcase filled with human remains. The remains are believed to be the body of 2-year-old Javon Thompson, a Baltimore child reported missing since at least late December of 2006.

"Our detectives were notified through a tip. The source of the tip said they have information about a homicide of an 18-month old," Officer Troy Harris of the Baltimore Police said.

The elderly resident of the apartment, who did not want to identified, said about a year ago he let a family of 5 drifters from Baltimore stay in his house until they got settled.

The family was made up of a mother, three girls, 17, 18, 20, and an adult son. The youngest girl was called Princess Danielle; the son was called Marcus.

The man said he put them out after four days, but let them store several bags in his shed, thinking they were clothes.

He never saw the Baltimore family again, but did receive a phone call one day from Marcus claiming to be somewhere in North Philadelphia.

When police knocked on the door, the old man told police that story.

When the suitcase was found, he said he was shocked. He thought the foul odor was a dead animal. The suitcase was packed with a comforter and fabric softener sheets to mask the smell.

Late Tuesday, Philadelphia's medical examiner ruled that the cause of death was homicide.