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Missing Mid Michigan Toddler Found Dead

MOUNT PLEASANT (WWJ/AP) - The body of a 4-year-old boy missing for a week was found buried Thursday at his home, a family spokesman said.

Carnel Chamberlain's body was found under a wood porch or deck at the home on the reservation of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, 70 miles north of Lansing, Kevin Chamberlain said.

Chamberlain, the tribe's former chief, said he had no details about what led investigators back to the house after many days of searching woods, ponds and the tribe's wastewater treatment areas.
The body "had to be in a grave. We had looked underneath before and didn't see anything," he said.

Carnel disappeared on June 21 while in the care of his mother's boyfriend.

"There's a lot of anger, just utter despair and disbelief. I don't know how else to define it," said Chamberlain, who is a cousin of Carnel's mother, 21-year-old Jaimee Chamberlain. "After a long week of searching and hoping, we're at a horrific, bitter end."

Tribal police referred calls to the FBI, which declined to comment on the investigation. Any charges in the case would be handled by federal authorities, who have jurisdiction over major crimes on Indian reservations.

Earlier this week, Jaimee Chamberlain said that her son was missing when she returned home from work on June 21.  She had left Carnel in her boyfriend's care, and told WWJ Newsradio 950 that she became suspicious when he didn't join her as she frantically searched for the child.

"And it sunk in and I was like, 'Where is he at?' I ended up like searching everywhere … I went in the bathrooms, I went in all the bedrooms, I looked in all the closets, I looked in all my cabinets, I looked in my refrigerator and after that I went outside and looked in the back yard," said Chamberlain, adding that it seemed her boyfriend might be "hiding something."

Police said boyfriend was not very cooperative during the weeklong search. He has since consulted a lawyer.

If you have any information about this case, you are asked to contact Tribal Police at (989) 775-4700.

(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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