Police also announced charges against the mother's boyfriend on Saturday night.
The boy's family members first reached out to Action News, saying Damari Carter was last seen on November 25.
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The mother, Dominique Bailey, 28, allegedly claimed to family members that Damari was struck and killed by a car, but there were no services for the child or report of this happening.
"I just knew. He's blood, so I gotta do whatever it takes to make sure my family is OK," said Aiyana Parrish, Damari's cousin.
"Everybody was just holding out hope that he was going to be found OK, just like a bump or a bruise or something like that, that she didn't want to get in trouble for," Parrish added, referring to Bailey.
6abc looked into this tip and forwarded it along to the police.
Following an investigation this week, police say no record of a car crash was found.
"Once everybody started to get cops involved because we're calling the children's hospital and they're like, 'We've never heard of Damari Carter ever,'" said Parrish.
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The investigation also led police to the 3800 block of Reno Street, where Bailey's 30-year-old boyfriend Kevin Spencer lives.
Sources tell Action News investigators believe Damari was beaten to death.
"How could anybody look at and put their hands on him and hurt him like that? It broke my heart," said Parrish.
At this point, they've been unable to find the young boy's body.
"It's heartbreaking to think that people are out there that are so ruthless and selfish and only think about themselves and what they want to do," said Parrish.
Investigators were back in the West Philadelphia neighborhood Saturday looking for clues.
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They searched vacant lots and a dumpster on the 800 block of Union Street.
Family members are still pushing to find out what happened to Damari, who they say had a life full of hardship.
"There were people out there that would have taken him and given him a better life," said Parrish.
Bailey is currently being charged with murder, endangering the welfare of a child, false reports, abuse of a corpse, and related charges, according to police.
Spencer has also been charged with criminal conspiracy, murder, endangering the welfare of a child, false reports, tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, and related charges.
Police are still searching for the body. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 215-686-TIPS.