The remains of a missing Texas toddler who vanished last year were found Monday in Pasadena’s Vince Bayou, police believe.
ABC 13 reports that although they are waiting on a final autopsy report, Houston police say they believe the remains to be of 2-year-old Nadia Lee, who disappeared in October 2022.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Nadia was the daughter of Nancy Reed, 22, and Jyron Charles Lee, 26, who was charged with Reed’s murder last year.
Police said in October 2022, they received a call from Reed, who said that she and Lee were having a dispute over child custody. Officers responded to a hotel room in the 500 block of Bay Area Blvd. in Pasadena and settled the dispute without any arrests.
There were two young girls present at the hotel, police said. Nadia was not one of them.
Later in the evening, Lee called police and said he put Reed into a chokehold after she hurt one of the children while disciplining them. Reed was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead; emergency room staff said she had trauma to her neck.
Lee was detained at the scene. The two girls were not harmed, police said, and were taken to Child Protective Services. Further investigation led to Lee being charged with Reed’s murder.
Later, investigators learned that a third child — Nadia — was not present at the hotel. Police uncovered evidence leading them to believe that Lee abducted the child and inflicted fatal injuries on her.
“I just thought it would turn into one of those cases that we would never find her,” Nadia’s aunt, Delia Reed, told KHOU. “Only thing we would hear is that her body was dumped in the dumpster.”
In December 2022, Lee was charged with capital murder in connection to Nadia’s death after police found evidence of a violent assault inside his Pasadena apartment.
“I’m glad the day is finally here, I am, so we don’t have to live each day not knowing and wondering and wishing and thinking,” Delia said. “He’s where he is, he’s getting what he deserves. My sister is where she is and now the baby can join her.”
Lee’s bond for both murders has been set at $1.85 million. Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Nadia Lee/Houston Police Department]
