Death of toddler buried near bridge ruled as homicide

ELMWOOD, La. – The death of a toddler whose body was found buried in a plastic garbage bag near a bridge in Louisiana has been ruled to a homicide.

News outlets report that the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office confirmed the death of 2-year-old Timothy Thompson IV as a homicide, but the exact cause of death remains unclear.

The boy's decomposed body was found July 6 in a bag on the east bank of the Mississippi River levee near the Huey P. Long Bridge.

After the body was discovered, the boy's parents, 21-year-old Gabrielle Whittington and 21-year-old Onterio Thompson, were arrested on charges of unlawful disposal of human remains and obstruction of justice.

Whittington has been released from jail on bond. Thompson remains in jail. It's unclear if either has an attorney who might comment.