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Mid-Michigan Boy's Funeral Likely Delayed For Weeks

BAY CITY (WWJ/AP) - It could be weeks before a funeral is held for a 4-year-old mid-Michigan boy whose body was found under his house last week, a family spokesman said Tuesday.

The delay comes at the request of federal agents who are investigating the death of Carnel Chamberlain on the Saginaw Chippewa Indian reservation in Isabella County, 70 miles north of Lansing, Kevin Chamberlain said.

"It could be a month to three months. That's all we've been told. Anything more we've been told we can't divulge," said Chamberlain, a former chief and the cousin of Carnel's mother, Jaimee Chamberlain.

" ... It's extremely frustrating, it's extremely disturbing, but we understand in an effort to, you know, see justice through properly, this is just a necessary thing that's gonna happen.  Not much that we can do about it," Chamberlain said.

The FBI, which investigates major crimes on Indian reservations, declined to comment and has not talked about any aspect of the case.

Meanwhile, Jaimee Chamberlain's boyfriend, who was taking care of Carnel when the boy disappeared June 21, was returning to court Tuesday to ask a judge to release him on bail.

No one has been charged in Carnel's death, but Anthony Bennett has been charged with assaulting him in late May or early June.

Jaimee Chamberlain, who lived with her son and Bennett, told the FBI she witnessed the abuse on more than one occasion -- a disclosure that surprised and disappointed the family.

"We can't condone the actions, or inactions, of anybody in the home," Kevin Chamberlain said. "It's unfortunate. Her inactions certainly didn't help where we are today. It's a tough pill to swallow."

He said the bathroom floor was soaked and the tub was less than full when Jaimee Chamberlain returned home from work and was told her son was missing.

Talking to WWJ Newsradio 950 last week, Carnel's mother said she began to suspect Bennett was hiding something when he failed to join her in her frantic search for the child. Police said he was initially uncooperative in their investigation.

Carnel's disappearance led to a weeklong search of the area, near Mount Pleasant.

Prosecutors want to keep Bennett in jail without bond.

(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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