Man Arrested In Connection With 13-Month-Old's Death
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (CBS4) - Police have arrested a man in connection with the death of a 13-month-old boy in Wyoming. The investigation has led crews to a landfill in Northern Colorado.
Officers arrested Logan Hunter Rogers in the death of the toddler. Rogers, 23, is the boyfriend of the child's mother. He has been arrested on charges of manslaughter and reckless child endangerment.
Rogers remained in custody on Friday evening after investigators said he admitted to disposing of the body of the child. Rogers was initially scheduled to appear in court on Friday but investigators said that's when his story changed.
"His story is changing somewhat and that's why they cancelled the court hearing today, " said Laramie County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Capt. Linda Gesell.
The child, later identified as Silas Anthony Ojeda, was first reported missing on Wednesday by his grandfather who called 911. The man called authorities after he realized the child hadn't been seen since Saturday.
Detectives told CBS4 that when investigators questioned the child's mother, she claimed her boyfriend, Rogers, had given the child to a man named Santiago who was going to take him fishing.
Officers said the child's mother could not give them Santiago's last name or even where he lived.
That's when investigators learned that Rogers was the only one home when the child died. Officers also said that initially Rogers told them he was responsible for dumping the child's body in a garbage bin at the Laramie County Community College campus.
Investigators in Laramie County told CBS4 their top priority is to locate the missing child's body which will provide clues as to what exactly happened leading up to the child's death.
"When you have that body you're able to determine, more so, cause of death, manner of death," said Gesell.
A trash truck picked up the garbage and took it to a landfill in Ault, located north of Greeley.
Law enforcement hadn't interviewed the child's mother at the time of Rogers' arrest. Gesell said the mother was in the hospital, and would not comment.
After learning of the child's death, neighbors told CBS4 they were in shock.
"Something you would read in crime stories and stuff like that. It's not something you expect to happen in your hometown," said one neighbor named Daniel.
Crews will search for the child's body in the landfill on Monday.
"If the body is in the landfill, we have about a one percent chance but we are not going to give up on that," said Gesell. "Our cadaver dog did hit on the vehicle that the child was transported in."
It is unclear whether the child's mother will face charges in the case.
Contributions by CBS4 reporter Dillon Thomas
