Investigators say they have found human remains in the backyard of the former home of a 6-year-old Texas boy who vanished more than three years ago.
Everman Police Chief Al Brooks said at a press conference on Wednesday that the remains have not yet been identified, WFAA reports. They have been taken to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office, where the identity and cause of death will be confirmed.
“I want to start by acknowledging the weight of this moment for our community, for those who have followed this case since its beginning, and most importantly for the memory of little Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez,” Brooks said.
The boy’s mother, Cindy Rodriguez Singh, was indicted for his murder after he was declared dead; however, she was declared incompetent to stand trial in April, KXAS reports.
Family members reported they had last seen the boy alive in October 2022, and police launched an investigation in March 2023. The boy’s mother, her other children, and her current husband fled the country to India within days.
Witnesses told investigators that Rodriguez Singh was abusive toward the child and told them she thought he was “evil” and “possessed.” He reportedly had intellectual disabilities.
Relatives said that the boy appeared malnourished and unhealthy when they last saw him, and he began missing medical appointments in July 2022. His mother reportedly asked to “borrow” a friend’s child for one appointment.
Rodriguez Singh was indicted last September, a month after she was returned to Texas, WFAA said.
Crews returned to the rental home where the family once lived on Monday.
Featured image: WFAA screenshot. Inset: Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez/police handout
