A 1-year-old dubbed the "miracle baby" was found alive after two days alone on the side of a highway by a trucker, but sadly, the search for his 4-year-old brother came to a tragic end.
On Tuesday, July 9, a passerby on I-10 eastbound near mile marker 10 in Vinton, Louisiana, noticed a baby in a ditch and called Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office deputies.
Police had already been on high alert after the baby's 4-year-old brother was found dead on Monday, July 8, in water near the Vinton Welcome Center, according to People.
It was reported to officials that the boy had been last seen on July 6 with his mother, Aaliyah N. Jack, 25, of Lake Charles.
Jack was "located in Mississippi, without the 1-year-old, by the Meridian Police Department and taken into custody," police confirmed.
The mother was charged with failure to report a missing child and issued a $300,000 warrant-set bond.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Gary "Stitch" Guillory told reporters in a video shared by The Associated Press,
"We looked at this 1-year-old as our miracle baby because he was still alive... unbelievable."
Guillory added emotionally, "This kid spent two days out in the weather on the side of the highway; "thank God that trucker saw him."
The 1-year-old had multiple bug bites but otherwise seemed to be in okay condition after being transported to a local hospital and is now safe and in the care of authorities, he said.
A news release stated that "CPSO detectives are actively working to gather all the information and details surrounding this case and the death of the 4-year-old and are dedicating all necessary resources to ensure a thorough investigation."
The coroner will determine the cause of death for the 4-year-old as detectives continue their investigation.
