The Latest: Mom charged with murder in case of missing son
LARGO, Fla. (AP) — The Latest on a Florida woman who is accused of killing her child (all times local):
3:30 p.m.
The Florida mother suspected in the death of her 2-year-old son appeared in court on Wednesday afternoon.
A Pinellas County judge charged 21-year-old Charisse Stinson with first degree murder and one count of aggravated child abuse. She is being held without bond.
Stinson reported her son Jordan Belliveau missing on Sunday to police in Largo, Florida, prompting a statewide Amber Alert. She said a man had knocked her unconscious and kidnapped the boy. Police even put out a sketch based on her description.
After learning the man did not exist, police called her testimony "deceptive" at a press conference Wednesday morning.
An arrest report says Stinson told investigators that in a moment of frustration she struck the child, causing his head to hit a wall. The report says she then left his body in the woods. Authorities found the body Tuesday afternoon.
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12:05 p.m.
Authorities in Largo, Florida, say they have a prime suspect in the death of a 2-year-old boy whose body was found in a wooded area -- it's the child's own mother, 21-year-old mother Charisse Stinson.
Stinson reported her son Jordan Belliveau missing on Sunday, prompting a statewide Amber Alert. She said a man had knocked her unconscious and kidnapped the boy. Police even put out a sketch based on her description.
Now police are calling her testimony "deceptive" at a press conference ahead of her first court appearance Wednesday afternoon.
An arrest report says Stinson told investigators that in a moment of frustration she struck the child, causing his head to hit a wall. The report says she then left his body in the woods. Authorities found the body Tuesday afternoon.
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2:59 a.m.
Florida police have arrested the mother of a missing toddler whose body was found this week.
The Bradenton Herald reports 21-year-old Chelsea Stinson is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 2-year-old Jordan Belliveau. Largo police say Stinson reported Jordan missing Saturday night.
She told authorities then that the two were walking Saturday night when she accepted a ride from a stranger. She said the stranger named "Antwan" knocked her unconscious, and she awoke alone in a wooded area hours later.
Police issued an Amber Alert and later released a sketch of "Antwan." Largo Police Maj. Stephen Slaughter says the Amber Alert was canceled when police found Jordan's body late Tuesday.
Police say details will be released Wednesday. It's unclear if Stinson has a lawyer to contact for comment.
