A Colorado mother is behind bars after Aurora police say they found a child’s remains inside her apartment.
According to The Denver Gazette, Alexus Tanielle Nelson, 27, was arrested this week and initially charged with attempting to influence a public servant. On Thursday, the Aurora Police Department announced additional charges of child abuse, tampering with physical evidence, and tampering with a human body.
On Tuesday, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation released issued a missing child alert for Nelson’s daughter, 5-year-old Maha Li Hobbs. Investigators then found the remains in Nelson’s apartment, but have not officially confirmed the identity, pending identification by the Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office.
Aurora Police Chief Art Acevedo, however, said that the victim is likely Maha.
“We are very confident that this is our victim,” Acevedo said.
Update to our missing 5-year-old:
We have arrested Maha Li's mother, Alexus Nelson, after Crimes Against Children detectives located human remains of a child in Nelson’s apartment.
Investigators are awaiting scientific confirmation and positive identification by the Arapahoe… pic.twitter.com/1VvmsDH0Rd
— Aurora Police Dept (@AuroraPD) June 1, 2023
The investigation began when Maha’s grandmother contacted 911, concerned after Nelson made some disturbing statements about the child, police said.
It’s unclear at this time what those statements were, but they led police to Nelson’s apartment off South Elkhart Way in Aurora. During police questioning, Nelson allegedly said she gave the child up for adoption but couldn’t provide any paperwork or proof to back the claim up.
When investigators couldn’t verify an adoption through state records, Nelson was arrested Tuesday on the initial. The following day, investigators found the child’s remains.
“The investigation remains active,” Aurora police said in a release. “Anyone with any information about this case is urged to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867). Tipsters can remain anonymous.”
Thus us a developing story. Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Maha Li Hobbs/Aurora PD]
