The body of Hezekiah Bernard, 12, was found in a dumpster in Philadelphia.Photo:FOX 29 Philadelphia/Youtube; Level Up Instagram
FOX 29 Philadelphia/Youtube; Level Up Instagram
Ernest Ransom, a staff inspector at the Philadelphia Police Department’s Homicide Unit, confirmed in a press conference the victim was Hezekiah Bernard, multiple media outlets reported includingCBS Philadelphia.
“Mr. Bernard was 12 years old,” said Ransom at a press conference Thursday, per6-ABC. “He was brutally killed and placed in a trash can. The focus is the apprehension of those involved in the senseless death.”
An autopsy revealed that Hezekiah may have been dead for about 24-36 hours,The Philadelphia Inquirerreported.
Ransom explained the trash pickup was conducted on Aug. 22, the day before the discovery of Hezekiah’s body. “They take it to their facility at 5500 Haverford,” he said, per CBS Philadelphia. “Now they go back to fill it up with more trash at the time on the way back to that location [Cherry Street], the trash container flipped over and that’s when they discovered the victim’s remains and they immediately notified police.”
Fliers were distributed that described the victim, according to police. Hezekiah’s family made the identification on Tuesday, perFox-29.
Ransom said that Hezekiah was not reported missing in the weeks prior to the discovery, 6-ABC reported. He also said it was unclear about the motive behind the killing or who did it.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE Friday, the Philadelphia Police Department said: “The investigation remains active and ongoing with the Homicide Unit.”
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“He’s gone but he ain’t never going to be forgotten,” Jyshair Montgomery, 16, told Fox-29.
source: people.com
