FATHER CHARGED IN MURDERING 12 YEAR OLD BOY AND BURYING HIM UNDER CONCRETECharges have been filed against the father of a missing boy after the 12-year-old's body was unearthed from a shallow grave at a mobile home park in Gary.
Police discovered the body of Christian Choate after breaking up a concrete slab. They believe the boy was buried there for about two years.
His father, Riley Lowell Choate, 39, was charged today with removal of a body from a death scene, failure to notify authorities of a death and failure to report a body to authorities, Lake County sheriff’s officials said.
Lake County Sheriff John Buncich says the father led investigators to the body.
Family members, including the boy's half-sister, said today they had suspected the body might be his.
Buncich says the father was no longer living at the trailer park and that the home's new tenant had no idea the body was buried in the backyard.
Photo: A Confederate Flag in Gary, INDIANA??? Investigators have found a body they believe is that of a missing 12-year-old boy buried at a mobile home park in Gary.
Police unearthed the body from a shallow grave after breaking up a concrete slab. They believe he was buried there for about two years.
Lake County Sheriff John Buncich says a relative of the missing boy had been arrested and led investigators to the body. Criminal charges are expected sometime today.
The county coroner's office says an autopsy and DNA testing are planned to confirm the boy's identity.
Buncich says the arrested man was no longer living at the trailer park and that the home's new tenant had no idea the body was buried in the backyard.