Missing Toddler Found Buried In Shallow Grave Near River, Uncle Arrested For Murder

The lifeless body of a missing toddler was found in a shallow grave in Blydeville outside Lichtenburg, South Africa on Tuesday, July 5. The accused killer, a 22-year-old relative of the victim was arrested on Wednesday.

The deceased, 2-year-old Neo Refemetswe Tlhame had been missing since May 24. He was with his grandparents when he went out to play with friends. When his mother returned from work the child had disappeared. He was reported missing a few days later.

A search was initiated for the missing toddler and according to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Funani, the unidentified man was also part of the search team.

"Subsequent to the fruitless search by the community members and Neo’s family, a missing person inquiry was opened for investigation. The police also joined the search but Neo was never found," Funani said.

The boy was eventually found after his mother reported to police about finding a suspicious grave near the river.

"According to the information received, police were called by Neo's mother after they spotted a suspicious grave near the river. The grave was dug out and the decomposed body of young Neo was identified with the clothes he was wearing on the day of his disappearance," Funani said.

The cause of death remains unclear. The victim's uncle was arrested for the toddler's murder, police said.

The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena congratulated the Lichtenburg Detectives for the quick response that led to the arrest of the suspect.

The accused uncle is expected to appear in the Lichtenburg Magistrate's Court on Friday, reports said.

In a similar incident, the five-month-long murder investigation of a two-and-half-year-old child who was found partially buried behind a shop has taken a new turn, police said.

Five persons, including a minor in connection, were arrested for the murder of the toddler, Muzamil Ahmed, whose lifeless body was discovered on Dec. 6, 2021, in Bengaluru, India.

The arrested were identified as Nawaz (20), Saddam (35), Haneez Sohail (22), Zaheer (23), and a minor, all residents of Kalaburgi.

When the body was exhumed, police spotted injury marks on the child’s body and believed the boy was murdered for ritual purposes.

However, a recent investigation revealed that the accused had killed the child over a dispute with his father. They then buried the child’s body behind a shop, police said.