Updated

A Las Vegas woman told investigators Tuesday that her dead child had been in a southern Illinois home for two years, and authorities later found human remains in the vacant house, according to authorities.

The remains were discovered in Centreville, a suburb a few miles southeast of St. Louis in Illinois' St. Clair County.

The woman called Las Vegas police early Tuesday, telling them her 7-year-old child died in 2015 and the body could be found in the home's garage, according to the local coroner, Calvin Dye Sr. Las Vegas police contacted Centreville officers, who found human remains wrapped in two blankets, Dye said.

Centreville police Sgt. DeMarius Thomas Sr. told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that police believe the child was killed in nearby Belleville, Illinois, and dumped in the garage. Thomas didn't elaborate and referred questions to Belleville police, who have taken over the investigation. Belleville police said a team of investigators is headed to Nevada.

Las Vegas police said a suspect was taken into custody Tuesday on unrelated charges. It's unclear whether the woman was being questioned by police or had been taken into custody.

A forensic anthropologist will try to determine the child's gender and race, and police are trying to determine how the child died, Dye said. He said investigators were trying to piece together the case.

"Everything's real sketchy," he said.

Neighbors of the small, frame home with boarded-up windows told the Belleville News-Democrat the house has been vacant for more than two years.

Property records show the home was last sold for $25,500 in 2005. The man listed as its owner, Marcus Acoff, declined comment when reached by the AP, saying he did not want to interfere in the investigation.