Photo: Gofundme; Ada County Sheriff’s Office
The body of amissing Idaho 8-year-oldwas discovered last week inside a garbage bag in the backseat of her grandmother’s car — and authorities havefiled chargesagainst the grandmother.
When police arrived at Smith’s home, they noticed that part of the carpet in the girl’s bedroom was missing. Smith allegedly told them that she had removed part of the carpet and burned it because the girl had defecated on it.
After a search of the surrounding area, forensic crews returned to the home on April 14. They allegedly found a spot of blood on Taryn’s wall.
According to the probable cause affidavit, authorities then discovered Taryn’s body in a black plastic garbage bag on the floor of the back seat of a black Lexus. Investigators said that the little girl was covered with vomit.
Smith was initially charged with first-degree murder, but is now instead charged with felony failure to notify a death and felony destruction, alteration, or concealment of evidence. Police say that more charges are forthcoming.
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Gem County Sheriff’s Office
Taryn, along with missing relatives Tristan Conner Sexton, 16, and Taylor Summers, 14, were all last seen in Emmett on separate dates, according to the Gem County Sheriff’s Office, who added that all three lived in the same home. Tristan vanished in September 2020, and Taylor disappeared in October.
At the time, police said that Taryn may have been a runaway and that all three children might have been together.
Smith is being held on $800,000 bond. She has not yet entered a plea, and her attorney did not immediately return PEOPLE’s call for comment.
source: people.com
