Jake Kimbley 2 Years Old Missing 8/21/2012 Smith County Texas (Near Winona) Found Deceased

[texasmom]

http://www.kltv.com/story/19333448/search-underway-for-missing-2-year-old-in-smith-county

Search for missing toddler to go through the night

Posted: Aug 21, 2012 3:29 PM CDT
Updated: Aug 21, 2012 10:44 PM CDT
By Elizabeth Thomas - email

SMITH COUNTY, TX (KLTV) -

Thermal imaging helicopters have joined in the search for a 2 year old boy who went missing Tuesday while playing a game of hide and seek.

An official with the Smith County Sheriff's Office says three kids were playing hide and seek in a densely-wooded area near FM 16 and CR 373 near Winona, when one child, a two-year-old boy, went missing.

The boy, Jake Kimbley, is described as a two-year-old, weighing about 30 lbs, wearing a red, green and blue onesie with tan pants, and no shoes. On Tuesday night, crews found Jake's clothes and a footprint at a nearby dry creek bank.

Jake was last seen behind his home around 1 Tuesday afternoon.

The Smith County Sheriff's Office says the missing boy is reportedly mentally challenged.

Twenty units, along with local fire departments and an air unit are involved in the search.

 ::snipping2::

[texasmom]

http://www.12newsnow.com/story/19333697/authorities-searching-for-2-year-old-in-winona-area?clienttype=printable

Search continues for missing toddler in Winona area

Posted: Aug 21, 2012 3:51 PM CDT
Updated: Aug 21, 2012 10:59 PM CDT

UPDATE: WINONA/SMITH COUNTY (KYTX) - The Alert Academy from Big Sandy has been called out.

They have a number of people on the ground. The sheriff's dept has also brought out ATVs and horses.

There are also still fire crews and EMS helicopters scouring the area for little Jake.

Sgt. Hughes with the Smith County Sheriff's Office says he last seen behind his house playing with other children.

He was wearing a red, blue and green striped shirt. He is believed to be barefoot somewhere in the woods.

 ::snipping2::

[texasmom]

http://www.ketknbc.com/news/update-search-continues-for-missing-special-needs-toddler

UPDATE: Search continues for missing special needs toddler
NEWS
Nicole Underwood
Assistant News Director/ KETK News

POSTED: Tuesday, August 21, 2012 - 7:16pm
UPDATED: Tuesday, August 21, 2012 - 9:25pm

SMITH COUNTY — UPDATE (7:30pm): Officials tell KETK, they have found a footprint of the missing boy at a home about 1000 feet away from the house where Jacob went missing.

UPDATE (6:45pm): The boy's grandmother tells KETK crews on the scene that she believes Jacob may have been taken from the property just before 2:00.

Officials have not confirmed this information, but the woman says she saw a vehicle drive away around that time.

KETK will continue to provide updates as the search for the toddler continues.

ORIGINAL STORY: Smith County officials are searching for a missing toddler in the Winona area.

The child is a two year old white boy, about three feet tall, wearing a striped onsie with khaki shorts and no shoes.

Officials tell KETK, the child, Jacob, is mentally disabled, and does not speak.

The boy went missing around 2:00pm on Tuesday from a private residence on FM 16, just off of Highway 271.

Smith County officials say that the child was reportedly playing hide and seek when he went missing, no word on whether the child was being supervised at that time. Two other children were also playing hide and seek, but are unharmed.

 ::snipping2::

(Pictures and Video at the link)

[Nut44x4]

    

Missing two-year-old boy found dead
Updated: Aug 22, 2012 4:16 AM EDT

WINONA, TX (KLTV) - A missing two-year-old East Texas boy has been found dead this morning.
 
Lieutenant Wiginton with the Smith County Sheriff's Office confirmed this morning that Jake Kimbley was found in the woods at 1:15 a.m. Wednesday
 ::snipping2::
Authorities are on scene investigating at this time, and additional help has been called in from the Smith County Sheriff's Office. ::snipping2::
Lt. Wiginton says it has not yet been determined whether foul play was involved.
http://www.ksla.com/story/19337952/missing-two-year-old-boy-found-dead

[MuffyBee]

Little Jacob.  Sad.    

 

[texasmom]

I'd so hoped for a happy ending...   

Rest in peace little Jake.   

[texasmom]

 

http://www.kltv.com/story/19337952/missing-two-year-old-boy-found-dead

Missing Smith Co. toddler's body found in septic tank

Posted: Aug 22, 2012 2:58 AM CDT
Updated: Aug 22, 2012 11:47 AM CDT
By Dia Wall - bio | email

WINONA, TX (KLTV) -

A missing two-year-old East Texas boy has been found dead this morning.

According to Smith County JP, precinct 4 Judge Mitch Shamburger, Jake Kimbley's body was found in an underground septic tank around 1:30 am, Wednesday. Judge Shamburger said the inspection lid was off and the hole was about 10 inches in diameter.

The two-year-old boy went missing around 1:00 p.m. Tuesday while playing hide and seek with another child. He is one of five children and has a twin brother.

Authorities are on still on the scene investigating at this time.

Judge Shamburger tells us they have not determined if it was accidental or not.

[cookie]

how sad...

[texasmom]

 

http://www.cbs19.tv/story/19342318/missing-2-year-olds-death-under-investigation

Smith County investigates 2-year-old's death as homicide


Posted: Aug 22, 2012 11:44 AM CDT
Updated: Aug 22, 2012 5:39 PM CDT
By Field Sutton - bio | email


UPDATE: SMITH COUNTY (KYTX) - We talked with Smith County Justice of the Peace Mitch Shamburger, who gave us the basics on the inquest and the body being found in the septic tank.

We have also talked with a woman who was there for the entire search effort, including her description of the conditions of the home and that Jake's parents were laughing and smiling and didn't help with the search. The other kids in the home were taken by Child Protective Services on Tuesday and remain in CPS custody.

We are also told that an eight-year-old told law enforcement that he watched his dad "kick Jake into a hole." There are reports that a professional septic company came to the scene to open the septic tank before authorities could check for the body.

The parents were questioned by the FBI Tuesday night, and Jake's grandfather was arrested today for being a registered sex offender near kids.

 ::snipping2::

[texasmom]

http://www.kltv.com/story/19337952/missing-two-year-old-boy-found-dead

CPS takes remaining children in to state custody

Posted: Aug 22, 2012 2:58 AM CDT
Updated: Aug 22, 2012 5:49 PM CDT
By KLTV News Staff - email

WINONA, TX (KLTV) -
Officials with Child Protective Services took Jake Kimbley's five siblings in to state custody Wednesday evening.

Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham says an emergency protective order was signed Wednesday morning by Judge Carole Clark.

At 5:19 Wednesday evening, CPS arrived at the residence where the remaining children were staying with family members, and took them into state custody.

CPS says the children will be placed into foster care.

A man has been taken from the scene where the missing two-year-old East Texas boy was found dead Wednesday morning.

During the search for the missing boy, investigators discovered a neighbor was a sex offender, and was in violation of probation. A warrant was issued for his arrest Wednesday afternoon, but officials say he's not a suspect in the boy's death. Family members say the arrested individual is Jake's grandfather.

Lt. Larry Wiginton from the Smith Co. Sheriff's Office says that nothing has been ruled out as to the cause of this child's death. Wiginton says all deaths are treated as possible homicides, and that is the status of the investigation at this time.

According to Smith County JP, precinct 4 Judge Mitch Shamburger, Jake Kimbley's body was found in an underground septic tank around 1:30 a.m., Wednesday. Judge Shamburger said the inspection lid was off and the hole was about 10 inches in diameter.

Shamburger could not say how the lid to the septic tank was removed.

The two-year-old boy went missing around 1:00 p.m. Tuesday while playing hide and seek with another child. He is one of five children and has a twin brother.

Authorities are on still on the scene investigating at this time.

Judge Shamburger says they have not determined if it was accidental or not.

A sanitation service removed Jake's body from the septic tank on Wednesday. His body has been taken to Dallas for autopsy; preliminary results are expected back by Friday.

CPS is conducting an investigation alongside law enforcement.

On Tuesday, volunteers reported clothes and footprints were found near a creek near the home. Authorities are now saying no clothes were found, and knowing the children played at the creek often, they believe the footprint was made by Jake before he went missing.

[cookie]

dear God...some children have no chance at life.  how in the hell did our world get so fricked up and so dysfunctial?? 

[MuffyBee]

   Poor, poor children.  It's sad it took Jake's death to perhaps save the rest of the children.   

[texasmom]

http://www.kltv.com/story/19354896/more-details-needed-after-preliminary-autopsy-on-toddler

Microscopic tests and studies to be conducted on toddler's body

Posted: Aug 23, 2012 3:59 PM CDT
Updated: Aug 23, 2012 5:59 PM CDT
By Taylor Hemness - bio | email
and Melanie Torre - email
 
SMITH COUNTY, TX (KLTV) -
As the investigation into Jake Kimbley's death continues, the preliminary autopsy report is returning few answers.

That report came back Thursday afternoon, as "pending." That's according to the Smith County Justice of the Peace Mitch Shamburger who pronounced Jake dead Wednesday morning.

According to Shamburger, the autopsy was conducted Thursday morning, but it was not conclusive. That means it's still not clear what the toddler's cause or manner of death is.

Now, the pathologist will conduct more microscopic tests and studies on the body. Those studies will take more time, but will hopefully yield more information.

It's been two days since Jake Kimbley was reported missing, just one day since his home was declared a crime scene.

At this point, District Attorney Matt Bingham says the Kimbley parents are not being named suspects, nor are they being ruled out.

"They're people that we're looking at in the on-going investigation, but I certainly don't want people to draw the conclusion," says Bingham, "That they did do it or that they didn't do it. That's what the evidence is for."

Right now the case is being treated as a homicide until authorities can say for sure that what happened to Jake was an accident.

Bingham says, "We're going to treat it has a homicide case and a capital murder investigation until the evidence leads us either that way or the evidence shows it was accidental."

The autopsy results are what will hopefully bring those answers, shedding light on Jake's cause and manner of death.

"The investigation is in the very, very early stages. The crime scene has not been released," Bingham explained,"We're in the process of gathering evidence and waiting on certain evidence."

 ::snipping2::

[texasmom]

http://www.kltv.com/story/19347021/still-no-official-suspects-in

Authorities: Autopsy results expected in 2-year-old's death by Friday

Posted: Aug 22, 2012 9:12 PM CDT
Updated: Aug 23, 2012 1:48 PM CDT
By Taylor Hemness - bio | email
By Stephanie Frazier - email


SMITH COUNTY, TX (KLTV) -
Thursday morning, several investigators were walking the scene where a two-year-old boy lost his life. Crime scene tape remains wrapped around the home, but was removed from the long dirt driveway leading to the scene of his death.

Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham, along with another prosecutor, was on the property, but had no comment about the current state of the investigation.

The Net Health Mosquito Director for Smith county and the City of Tyler was also on the scene. He stated that they were asked by the DA's office to assist in the investigation, but was unable to specify how they were assisting.

 ::snipping2::

On Wednesday evening, Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham spoke about the investigation; he says that right now, the case has to be treated as a homicide until it's proven that it was not.

Wednesday evening, Child Protective Services took custody of five other children in Jake's family after the Smith County DA's Office filed paperwork that said they are investigating this death as a homicide.

"The family of the child took the remaining children, the living children, to an individual to stay with this individual who was just released from jail yesterday," Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham said. "And that was one reason that concerns us. Another, in the home, as we put in our motion, had severe roach infestation. There were environmental hazards in that home that we believed posed a serious risk to the remaining children should they remain in the house, and we put that in the motion."

Bingham said that until the investigation is concluded, no one can be ruled out as a subject of the investigation.

"I'm very cognizant of the fact that these are two parents that have lost a child. The reality of it is, though, that they are people we look at because we're going to look at everyone until we can say they're not involved. And we're going to carry it as a homicide until we can say that it's otherwise," Bingham said.

District Attorney Bingham also said that as long as the case is being treated as a homicide, it is a capital murder investigation, solely because of Jake's age.

The autopsy is being preformed Thursday morning, and the District Attorney's Office said it could be Friday before the results are in.

Jake's grandfather was arrested Wednesday on a charge of violating his sex offender probation. Authorities stress that, while his sex offender status was the part of the reason that Jake's siblings were removed from the home, his arrest was not related to Jake's death.

[texasmom]

http://www.kltv.com/story/19353571/kimbely-family-attorney-

Kimbley family attorney addresses 'gossip'

Posted: Aug 23, 2012 1:41 PM CDT
Updated: Aug 23, 2012 3:39 PM CDT
By Michael Thompson - email
and Melanie Torre - email

TYLER, TX (KLTV) -
KLTV just spoke with Reeve Jackson, who is representing Sabrina Kimbley.

Regarding statements from other media about Jake's dad kicking him in a hole, Jackson confirms the father was at work when the child was reported missing. He also says there is no 8 year old in the family. There is a 9 year old. This is consistent with what law enforcement working on this case have told KLTV.

Regarding Sabrina's alleged confession, Jackson said Sabrina did have conversations with law enforcement before he became involved with the case so he cannot say what was said between the mother and officials because he does not know.

He said Sabrina is cooperating with law enforcement.

He also says he's "working on a release" to clear those things up to other media shortly.

The following statement was released on behalf of the Kimbley family, via The Jackson Law Firm:

We appreciate those members of the media who are taking a deliberative approach to this developing tragedy.  There is no greater loss to a parent or to a community than the death of one of its children and the Kimbley family is grateful for the prayers and support that so many have offered.

While it is unfortunate to have to do so during this trying time, circumstances have developed that necessitate a response from the Kimbley family.  Specifically, any reports as to inappropriate behavior on their part during the search for their son are entirely false.  The tears they have cried, and continue to cry, are as real as they are plentiful.  During the investigation the family cooperated with law enforcement and wanted nothing more than to see the safe return of their son.

At this time, the Kimbley family remains committed to working to see a just outcome for their son and the reuniting of their family under happier circumstances.   

[texasmom]

I checked in and read news reports about this case a few times today, it's amazing to me how much has been removed from the articles in a few hours time.

 

[MuffyBee]

Read from bottom up. Other previous information/updates at link.  Lots of photos included at link below.

http://www.ketknbc.com/news/update-smith-county-toddler%E2%80%99s-death-being-treated-as-homicide
Update: Smith County toddler’s death being treated as homicide
Posted August 22, 2012, Updated August 24, 2012

SMITH COUNTY — UPDATE (9:51 PM): The death of the 2 yr. old little boy in Smith County is now being treated as a homicide. However, Smith Co. District Attorney Matt Bingham tells KETK, all cases like this are investigated as homicides unless evidence proves otherwise.

Bingham says, they are in the very early stages of the investigation. And because of that, they can't say it's accidental. They will now collect evidence, talk with witnesses,  wait on the autopsy results and continue their investigation.

At this time, Bingham tells KETK, everyone is considered a "person of interest." He says, they are looking at everyone, including Jacob's parents, until evidence says they're not involved.  No one, at this time, is considered a suspect.

 UPDATE (5:30pm): Authorities with Child Protective Services tell KETK, the other children in the home were removed around 5:00pm on Wednesday.

They will be placed in foster care.

UPDATE (2:28pm): The toddler was found in a fiberglass septic, according to Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 Judge Mitch Shamburger.

The boy's body has been sent to Dallas for autopsy. The results are expected by the end of this week.

Judge Shamburger could not say whether the death was accidential or if foul play was involved.
 ::snipping2::

[Nut44x4]

I'd so hoped for a happy ending...   

Rest in peace little Jake.   

Ditto 

[flutter1]

KLTV.com-Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville, Texas | ETX NewsOfficial: Inspection cover lid to septic tank easily removable
Posted: Updated:
By Melanie Torre
8/27/2012 ::snipping2::Smith County Precinct 4 Judge Mitch Shamburger drew a picture of the septic tank lid in an effort to better explain what exactly Jake was under. Judge Shamburger was on the scene and pronounced Jake dead around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Judge Shamburger says the green part in the picture (see right) is the dome-like cover. That cover is about 36 inches in diameter. The black hole is the "clean out" or "inspection hole." That opening is about 10 to 12 inches in diameter. The black hole is how the sanitation companies clean out the tank.

Judge Shamburger says it's still unclear if the lid to the inspection hole was on or off, but he did say it is easily removable.

Another photo of a septic tank lid online (see right) shows a lid similar to the one on the tank Jake was inside. Except, the Kimbley family's septic tank wasn't cracked and it only had one inspection hole, not two.

http://www.kltv.com/story/19389554/official-inspection-cover-lid-to-septic-tank-easily-removable

I can't see the illustrations on my computer so I am still not sure how the little boy was suppose to have fallen into a 10" hole.  Its not impossible, just unlikely.   

[MuffyBee]

KLTV.com-Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville, Texas | ETX NewsOfficial: Inspection cover lid to septic tank easily removable
Posted: Updated:
By Melanie Torre
8/27/2012 ::snipping2::Smith County Precinct 4 Judge Mitch Shamburger drew a picture of the septic tank lid in an effort to better explain what exactly Jake was under. Judge Shamburger was on the scene and pronounced Jake dead around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Judge Shamburger says the green part in the picture (see right) is the dome-like cover. That cover is about 36 inches in diameter. The black hole is the "clean out" or "inspection hole." That opening is about 10 to 12 inches in diameter. The black hole is how the sanitation companies clean out the tank.

Judge Shamburger says it's still unclear if the lid to the inspection hole was on or off, but he did say it is easily removable.

Another photo of a septic tank lid online (see right) shows a lid similar to the one on the tank Jake was inside. Except, the Kimbley family's septic tank wasn't cracked and it only had one inspection hole, not two.

http://www.kltv.com/story/19389554/official-inspection-cover-lid-to-septic-tank-easily-removable

I can't see the illustrations on my computer so I am still not sure how the little boy was suppose to have fallen into a 10" hole.  Its not impossible, just unlikely.   

http://www.kltv.com/story/19389554/official-inspection-cover-lid-to-septic-tank-easily-removable


Septic Tank Lid Drawing by Mitch Shamburger.

Septic tank lid similar to Kimbley family's.

 ::snipping2::
Smith County Precinct 4 Judge Mitch Shamburger drew a picture of the septic tank lid in an effort to better explain what exactly Jake was under. Judge Shamburger was on the scene and pronounced Jake dead around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Judge Shamburger says the green part in the picture (see right) is the dome-like cover. That cover is about 36 inches in diameter. The black hole is the "clean out" or "inspection hole." That opening is about 10 to 12 inches in diameter. The black hole is how the sanitation companies clean out the tank.

Judge Shamburger says it's still unclear if the lid to the inspection hole was on or off, but he did say it is easily removable.

Another photo of a septic tank lid online (see right) shows a lid similar to the one on the tank Jake was inside. Except, the Kimbley family's septic tank wasn't cracked and it only had one inspection hole, not two.

How exactly Jake got into the septic tank still has yet to be determined. While investigators continue to determine if what happened to Jake Kimbley was an accident, his five siblings remain in foster care in the custody of child protective services.