On Tuesday, Pennsylvania officials identified a 12-year-old boy who was found dead in a dumpster last week.
A sanitation employee discovered Hezekiah Bernard’s body in a dumpster at a Philadelphia Housing complex on August 23. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Bernard was shot in the head — and his head was wrapped in plastic.
Staff Inspector Ernest Ransom said Bernard, who was not reported missing in recent weeks, had been dead for 24 to 36 hours by the time he was found.
“I thought he just wasn’t answering the phone, but I wind up finding out he was dead and they put him in a dumpster,” Bernard’s friend told WTXF.
WPVI reported the sanitation worker initially picked up the container with Bernard’s body at Haddington Homes and delivered to the housing complex, where it remained overnight. The worker returned the next day to the complex to get more trash when the container overturned, revealing Bernard’s body.
According to WPVI, Bernard’s body was also wrapped in a blanket.
Sources told the news outlet that Bernard was in the Department of Human Services’ custody at one point, but not at the time of his slaying.
Ransom said they do not know where Bernard was killed. KYW-TV reported that victim was initially misidentified as a man in his 20s until homicide detectives handing out flyers describing his clothing were told by family members that the victim is Bernard, a 12 year old.
No arrests have been made. A motive remains unclear.
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[Featured image: Hezekiah Bernard/WTXF video screengrab]
