Wisconsin authorities explained why an AMBER Alert was not issued in last month’s case of a 5-year-old boy who was found dead in a dumpster.
Prince McCree was discovered dead in Milwaukee on October 26, a day after he vanished from his home. David E. Pietura, 27, and Erik J. Mendoza, 15, who lived in a multifamily home with McCree, allegedly confessed to their involvement in McCree’s disappearance and death — which NBC noted never sparked an AMBER Alert.
Milwaukee police issued a “critical missing” notice to the media. A police spokesperson explained to NBC that the Justice Department denied their request to issue an AMBER Alert for McCree.
READ: Missing 5-year-old Wisconsin Boy Found Dead in Dumpster, Teen and Adult Arrested
“We did consult with the Department of Justice; however, we did not meet the criteria for an amber alert,” the spokesperson said in an email.
State Senator LaTonya Johnson speculated that the Justice Department denied the AMBER Alert request because there was no vehicle or suspect description associated with McCree’s disappearance. However, the agency declined to confirm this to NBC, describing it as an ongoing investigation that it is not involved in.
According to NBC, Pietura claimed that Mendoza mentioned “wanting to kill” McCree because he did not like him. Pietura and Mendoza allegedly beat the boy with a golf club and continued to beat and gag him until he died. They were then reportedly filmed carrying a garbage bag, presumably containing the boy’s body, out of the home.
Mendoza is charged as an adult with first-degree intentional homicide, physical abuse of a child, hiding a corpse, and recklessly endangering safety. Pietura is charged with first-degree homicide, physical abuse of a child, hiding a corpse, and being party to a crime.
Meanwhile, McCree’s funeral was on Tuesday.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast. Listen to the latest episode:
[Featured image: Prince McCree/Handout]
