A decomposing body found in a duffel bag in Philadelphia earlier this year has been identified as a 4-year-old boy, who authorities say was bludgeoned to death.
Damari Carter’s body was discovered on March 18 by a worker cleaning an alley in the Mantua neighborhood. Authorities were initially unable to determine the child’s age, gender or identity, but DNA testing eventually confirmed Carter’s identity, police said Wednesday.
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The child was last seen alive in early December, but was not reported missing until December 30th. His body was found less than half a mile from where he lived with his mother, Dominic Bailey, and her boyfriend, Kevin Spencer. They are charged with murder, abuse of a corpse, child endangerment and other charges in connection with his death.
The Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refinery is visible in front of the Philadelphia skyline. (Reuters/David M. Parrott)
Authorities said they opened an investigation after discovering inconsistencies in Bailey’s account of her son’s death. Police said she initially told her relatives that her son had been hit by a car and died at the hospital.
Bailey ultimately claimed that on Dec. 7, she watched Spencer beat Carter until he lost consciousness in his home, authorities said. The woman told police she later realized the boy was dead and disposed of his body, authorities said. However, authorities said the couple did not tell investigators where they had placed the body.
A preliminary hearing for Mr. Bailey and Mr. Spencer is scheduled for June 18th. The Associated Press left a message seeking comment from the attorney.
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The Mantua section is located in West Philadelphia near the Schuylkill River. It is home to the Philadelphia Zoo and near the Drexel University campus.
