Search continues for missing 4-year-old presumed dead in Philadelphia; man's home searched
The investigation into this incident began on December 30, after family members said they had not seen Damari Carter in weeks.
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The search continues for a missing 4-year-old who is presumed dead in Philadelphia.
Police searched the home of a man connected to the case for more evidence to try and find the young boy, Damari Carter.
Carter's mother, 28-year-old Dominique Bailey from the Overbrook neighborhood, and her boyfriend, 30-year-old Kevin Spencer from West Philadelphia, are facing several charges in this case.
Some of those charges include murder, endangering the welfare of a child, and false reports.
The investigation into this incident began on December 30, after family members said they had not seen Carter in weeks.
Carter's aunt, Nakia Bailey, told Action News they last saw him on his birthday, November 25.
Carter's mother reportedly told the family that the 4-year-old had been struck and killed by a car, but police found no evidence of this incident.
On Sunday morning, police searched Spencer's house on the 3800 block of Reno Street.
In a video, officers can be seen carrying out bags of evidence collected at the scene.
Police have spent the majority of the weekend searching for Carter, canvassing neighborhoods, and even examining dumpsters blocks away from Spencer's home.
So far, officers have not found anything in connection to the child.
On January 5, however, police say Bailey provided information on her involvement in the death of her son.
Sources tell Action News that investigators believe Carter was beaten to death.
Carter's family spoke with Action News about this incident, saying the situation is devastating.
"How could anybody look and put their hands on him and hurt him like that?" questioned Aiyana Parrish, Carter's cousin. "It broke my heart."
Carter's aunt described him as an innocent sweetheart. She said the boy and his mother lived with her in Texas before they moved to Philadelphia last year.
"What happened to him was senseless. I'm heartbroken," Nakia said. "We still haven't had peace. We don't know where he is and it's all because of my sister."
She wants more than anything to know where he is for closure and so she can give him a funeral.
"It didn't have to happen," she said of the situation. "That baby was wanted. If not by her, by everyone else. His father wanted him."
Now, she is praying that authorities find Carter.
"We are sorry that we didn't do more and that we're never going to stop looking for him. I love him. I'm so sorry," she said.
Nakia also told Action News that she had adopted Carter's brother, who is 6 years old. She says she doesn't know how she will explain this tragedy to him.
Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call police at 215-686-TIPS.
