Girlfriend Of Father Arrested As Police Suspect Body Found In Tote Bag At Texas Motel Is Missing 6-Year-Old
JASPER, Texas (CBSDFW.COM/AP) — A woman is under arrest after police say a child found dead in a motel room is believed to be a boy reported missing from a city in Texas.
Authorities in Houston had been searching for Samuel Olson since the little boy was reported missing on May 27. On Tuesday night, police discovered the body of a child inside a tote bag at a motel in Jasper, about 135 miles northeast of Houston. Authorities believe it is Samuel but are waiting on official confirmation from the medical examiner's office.
Family members say Samuel would have turned 6 over the weekend.
The boy was reported missing by his father's girlfriend, Theresa Balboa, who told officers that Samuel's mother and a police officer showed up and took the boy from the home. On Tuesday, police in Jasper received an anonymous tip and searched the motel room, where they discovered the body.
Balboa was also at the motel and was taken into custody. As of now she is only charged with tampering with evidence, but officials say more charges are possible. Balboa is being held in the Jasper County Jail.
Authorities are now investigating how long Samuel may have been missing and how he ended up in Jasper. Houston police Assistant Chief Larry Satterwhite told the Houston Chronicle that the last confirmed sighting of Samuel was on April 30 at his school.
(© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
