SILVERTON — DeMarlo Hayes, the mother of 9-year-old Diarro Lavon Hayes — who was asyphixiated and his body burned Friday night in Daniel Drake Park — on Monday night was charged with murder in his death.

Hayes

Diarro

        Ms. Hayes, 26, of the 4100 block of St. James Street, was charged after Silverton and Cincinnati police searched her house Monday afternoon and removed some physical evidence, including a gas can.

        She was taken to the Hamilton County Justice Center and was being held without bond until an arraignment today.

Detective checks a gas can behind the Hayes' garage. Police took it and other items from the home. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

        The boy's body was found in a shelter in the Kennedy Heights park Saturday morning. His mother had reported him missing Friday night, saying he had gone to visit a school friend.

        Ms. Hayes gave a statement “of some length,” said Sgt. John Newsom, a supervisor in the Cincinnati homicide unit. He said police were led to question her “as a result of items found during the search and other physical evidence.” He would not elaborate.

        Sgt. Newsom said an autopsy showed the boy was asphyxiated Friday and the burning occurred after death.

        “It was pretty horrible,” said Capt. Vince Demasi of Cincinnati's criminal investigations section.

Officers stand at the door while police search the home. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

        Silverton Police Chief Mike Daudistel called it “a sad case,” and said no other arrests are anticipated.

        Ms. Hayes has two other children, an 11-year-old daughter and a 5-month-old daughter, who are staying with their grandmother.

        The boy was identified earlier Monday through dental records, police said.

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