'We Are Not Supposed To Bury Our Kids,' Says Stepdad Of Murdered Teen

DETROIT (WWJ) - How does anyone gather the courage to identify their child who has been murdered?

Just over 36 hours after his disappearance, family members have positively identified the body of 13-year-old Deontae Mitchell.

Deontae was abducted Tuesday evening from a market less than five miles away from where his body was found.

Police have two men and a woman in custody and are looking for one other man in connection with his murder.

Deontae's stepfather, Ernest McFadden, was among the relatives at the medical examiner's office where Deontae Mitchell was identified.

"Very hard, very painful - it's more harder on his mom than anyone else in the world right now," said McFadden. "She distraught like any body else would be right now - you know - you are not supposed to bury your kids right and we all know that right? We are not supposed to bury our kids."

He said Deontae was a good kid, the youngest of four children, who didn't deserve this ending.

"You don't cope with something like this," said McFadden. "This is a tragedy."

The family is unable to pay for funeral costs. A GoFundMe account has been established to assist the family.