Arrest and Charges
Three days after a 4-year-old boy’s body was found in a lake in southwest Louisiana, and two days after his 1-year-old brother was rescued while crawling beside an interstate highway, Louisiana authorities have charged the children’s mother with second-degree murder. Aaliyah Jack, 25, was arrested earlier this week in Mississippi on a charge of failing to report a missing child. On Thursday, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office added charges including cruelty to a juvenile and second-degree murder.
Current Custody Status
Jack remains in custody in Meridian, Mississippi, following her arrest. It is currently unclear when she will be extradited to Louisiana. Online booking records do not show her status, and no information is available regarding her legal representation. A Louisiana judge has set her bond at $9.1 million, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff’s Statement
“Although we have upgraded charges on Jack, our detectives still have a lot of work to do,” Calcasieu Sheriff Gary “Stitch” Guillory said. “The investigation will continue while we wait for the autopsy results of the victim.”
Authorities have not yet released a suspected cause of death for the 4-year-old boy.
Discovery of the ‘Miracle Baby’
On Tuesday, Sheriff Guillory described the 1-year-old as a “miracle baby.” The baby was found crawling in a ditch beside Interstate 10 after being alone for two days in sometimes stormy weather. Despite being covered with insect bites, the baby was otherwise in good condition.
Timeline of Events
Authorities recovered the 4-year-old’s body on Monday after receiving a report of a body in a lake behind a Louisiana welcome center. Following this discovery, police began searching for Jack, who was subsequently arrested in Meridian. The search for the missing baby continued until Tuesday morning when a truck driver called 911 after spotting the baby crawling by the highway.
