Body of missing Missouri 3-year-old found inside van; autopsy ordered

At about 11 a.m., someone spotted Titus inside the van of a neighbor who lives about a mile from his grandfather’s home and flagged down a searcher, who summoned the authorities, Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Clark Parrott told reporters.

The boy had been staying with his grandfather while his parents went out Tuesday night, police said. Police the toddler walked away from his home sometime in the early morning hours on Wednesday wearing only a diaper with temperatures outside dipping below freezing. When the parents returned home around 1 a.m. they noticed the door to the house was open and the child was missing.

Drew Cole said the ex-boyfriend’s father was in the house when the boy was last seen.

Tackett was later found dead inside a van, covered in a blanket.

The rumors that Titus Tackett may have been murdered appear to be based exclusively on speculation. K9 units and Federal Bureau of Investigation helicopters were dispatched, but it was a homeowner who found Titus mid-morning on Wednesday.

Over 80 volunteers were part of the search for the missing toddler.

“We really appreciate it very much this is what you know you’ve got a community to pull together”.

Curtis Rulo, 26, of Ironton, is a cousin to Titus’ mother, Amber Tackett.

There are also no indications from the neighbor who found the boy’s body that foul play could have been involved.

Authorities said the boy ended up wandering too far into the forest and into an area missed by search crews.

Officials say they are running an autopsy on the boy to determine what happened.

Ironton, MO (KTRS) An autopsy will be performed on Thursday on a three-year-old boy who went missing from his g…