At about 11:55 p.m. on Thursday, 23-year-old Britton Loyden of Vineland and Loyden's 1-year-old son were reported missing by Loyden's mother.
Loyden and her son were then entered as missing persons in the NCIC Missing Persons nationwide database.
On Friday, investigation by Vineland police at Loyden's residence in the 1900 block of South Main Road Vineland revealed that the 1-year-child was unharmed and in the care of his father, 24-year-old Ismael Pierce of the 900 block of South Spring Road.
Vineland Police Detectives Antonio Ramos and Ron DeMarchi discovered the body of Britton Loyden in the bedroom of the residence.
Pierce was immediately detained and brought to police headquarters.
Later that day, he was charged with Aggravated Manslaughter and lodged in Cumberland County Jail on bail in the amount of $200,000.
On Saturday, after an autopsy was performed by the Medical Examiner, the charge was upgraded to 1st degree Murder, with bail increased to $500,000.
