COLUMBUS, OH – The life of an 8-year-old boy ended abruptly, leading to the arrest of two women, including the victim’s mother. Lashanda Wilder, the child’s mother, faces murder and obstruction of justice charges. Johnna Lowe, believed to be Wilder’s partner, meanwhile, faces an obstruction of justice charge.
According to reports, Wilder, 32, alerted the police on Friday afternoon, revealing her son, Martonio Wilder, had not been seen since he went to bed the previous night. Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant recounted how officers began to suspect possible foul play involved after conducting initial investigations. Court documents later revealed that the young boy’s lifeless body was recovered inside a garbage bag in the attic of the house around 6 p.m.
Although the exact cause of Martonio’s death remains undisclosed, based on preliminary investigations, the Franklin County Coroner’s Office classified the case as a homicide. Shortly after the grisly discovery, authorities issued an AMBER Alert for Wilder and her other two sons, Mikhael Simon, 9, and King Wilder, 3. The children were recovered unharmed at a relative’s house 20 minutes after the issuance of the alert.
The police shared that Wilder and Lowe initially cooperated but became increasingly unyielding as the search for Martonio unfolded. At one point, Wilder reportedly refused the entry of a K9 officer into her residence.
Wilder’s brother described his sister as “evil”, battling long-standing anger issues. He attested however, that her sons manifested happiness and joy when they were not in her company. Martonio Wilder, known within his community as an animal lover, was known to frequently visit a nearby residence to play with kittens.