Camilia has been arrested and at press time no charges have been filed and police say she has not admitted to any crime yet. Her two other children are in the custody of Children and Family Services.

By JAMES W. WADE III
Staff Reporter

The two-day search for Emilliano Terry, who had been reported missing by his mother, ended tragically when the body of the three year old was found at a landfill in a trash bag. 

Since Sunday, police and others had been searching for young Terry after his mother Camilia T. Terry (20) called 911 to report him missing.

While the police were trying to get Camilia to recall what happen they became suspicious as her story kept changing. It was considered by the police that being in the right place at the right time helped with solving this case.

During the search for young Emilliano, an officer observed a Waste Management truck in the area of the boy's home. Acting quickly the police contacted the company and asked them to hold the truck so they could search.

An investigator with the Cleveland Police Department shared that Terry’s 5-year-old brother can be seen on surveillance video pointing at a waste management truck, and that’s what led authorities to start searching in that direction. Agents looked through 4 to 5 bags before finding the bag with the body of the young three year old. The body was intact.

At approximately 4 p.m., police confirmed that the boy's body was found inside a trash bag that matched bags from Camilia’s house, as well as, inside the truck at the landfill inOakwoodVillage.

Clevelandpolice and the Cleveland Division of the FBI held a news conference Monday at 9:45 p.m. to give an update on the young boy who had been reported as disappeared fromKossuthParkat about 5 p.m. Sunday.

“We come here with heavy hearts, I’m sure you understand. Today, at approximately 4 [p.m.], a body of a small child matching the description of Emilliano Terry was discovered at a waste treatment plant in OakwoodVillage. At this time, we have suspended the search for Emilliano Terry, pending a ruling from the coroner’s office,” said Cleveland Police Chief Michael McGrath.

In the beginning, Camilia had told the police she was pushing one of her three children on the swing when the 3-year-old vanished. Her 5-year-old told police he saw a car in the area, butClevelandpolice said there was nothing to indicate Emilliano got into that car.

Sunday night, volunteer groups like the Guardian Angels and the Peace Makers Alliance canvassed RTA stations, garages and abandoned homes for several hours in the area ofEast 116th StreettoEast 128th Street.

Officers and police dogs searched the park, which is about a half mile fromShaker Square, and nearbyBuckeye RoadSunday night. The police checked around with various witnesses and even examined surveillance videos from businesses alongShaker Boulevard.

“This tragedy has shaken this whole city. How could this happen to this precious 3 year old baby? This is something that we as a people don't do. This isn't in our DNA, but when you grow up in foster care and raped and molested, plus have a baby at 12 years of age, then the conditions that produced this type of situation are already in place. Someone should have caught this before it reached this point! Someone dropped the ball on this one! My heart is truly hurting right now and this situation has bought back memories if Shakira Johnson to me. I would like to thank the Cleveland Peace Makers Alliance members and all the local and federal law enforcement agencies for working side by side with us and sharing information that didn't violate their code of ethics as we attempted to locate this kid alive,” said James Box Cleveland’s project director of Community Development and a member of the Peace Makers Alliance.

Camilia has been arrested and at press time no charges have been filed and police say she has not admitted to any crime yet. Her two other children are in the custody of Children and Family Services.

Camila, a foster child, reportedly sought help in May and July. It is not clear why she didn’t receive the help needed. While talking to the 911 dispatcher, the dispatcher asked “How long has it been since you last saw him?” Camilia answered “Fifteen minutes ago. I was looking everywhere for him, I can't find him.”

Emilliano Terry's mother reported that the boy was taken while they were at Kossuth Park Sunday around 5 p.m. prompting police to issue a missing child alert. (Read story here) At press time the Medical Examiner’s Office has to establish a DNA test and that could take a few days to get the final results. They also confirmed they conducted an autopsy Tuesday morning, but were still waiting for results.

“The Cleveland Division of Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are working diligently together to ensure a swift and thorough investigation of Emilliano’s death,” said police chief McGrath. “He deserves nothing less. It is our duty and responsibility to ensure justice for Emilliano and we will NOT rest until it is served. We ask for your continued assistance in providing any information related to Emilliano’s death to our Homicide Unit at 216-623-5464.”

A rally and vigil will be held Wednesday at Kossuth Park in Cleveland to honor the life of 3-year-old Emilliano Terry. The Coalition for a Better Life/Peace in the Hood, Inc., along with the Task Force for Community Mobilization, Peacemakers Alliance Community Activists and friends, invite the public to join them for the event. People can begin gathering at 5 p.m. and the vigil is set to begin at 5:30 p.m.

Check out Press Conference from Wednesday Nov 28, 2012 Click here