With no options in sight, a mother in Las Vegas begged to be rescued from her abusive boyfriend in a note she sent through her daughter to her school. This cry for help ultimately uncovered something more sinister: police found the girl’s brother’s dead body in a freezer.
The gruesome discovery was recently made in northeast Las Vegas thanks to the mother’s desperate attempt to get help. The note that she sent her daughter to school with, was reportedly read by the young girl’s elementary school teacher, who then alerted the authorities.
This world is so messed up https://t.co/1H9JMy3Zks
— Snow Dog Lady 🇺🇲 ❄️🐾 (@Huskyaddiction4) February 23, 2022
“That note indicated that the mom was being held against her will. She also stated that she did not know the whereabouts of her preschool-aged child,” revealed Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Ray Spencer, according to NBC News. Thus, officers arrived at the girl’s home on Saddle Brook Park Drive where the mother expressed her concerns regarding her 4-year-old son’s safety.
She feared that her young son might be dead as she had not seen him since December 11, according to officials. “During the course of that interview, she described that she had undergone abuse by her boyfriend, who she lived with, and had been inquiring about the whereabouts of her child and believed that the child may possibly be deceased,” revealed Spencer.
The woman’s boyfriend, who was later identified as 35-year-old Brandon Toseland, had reportedly been preventing her from leaving the house. What made her more suspicious about her son’s death was the fact that Toseland wouldn’t even let her enter the garage — and that’s where cops ultimately found her son’s body placed inside a freezer.
Eventually, Toseland, who is not the father of the two kids, was arrested and charged with suspected kidnapping. It was revealed that he had been arrested previously in Las Vegan back on December 27, 2008. Police allegedly found a pair of metal knuckles in his car which led them to charge him with possession of a dangerous weapon, according to prosecutors.
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As the investigation continues to unfold, Spencer said, “We have a lot of questions that we still don’t have the answer to.” It’s unclear whether Toseland has hired an attorney or is being appointed one. He made his initial appearance in Las Vegas Justice Court on Wednesday, where the kidnapping charge against him was read to him. Later that day, a murder charge was also added after officers uncovered the boy’s dead body. He remains in custody while awaiting his next court appearance.
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Disclaimer: If you are being subjected to domestic abuse or know of anyone else who is, please visit The National Domestic Violence Hotline website or call 1-800-799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522.
Cover image source: YouTube Screenshot | FOX5 Las Vegas
