Denver police find dead boy in storage unit; mother arrested

A seven-year-old boy was reported missing just days before Christmas in Aurora, but Denver police officers found a child’s body inside a storage unit and now a 43-year-old mother is in custody.

The Denver Police Department posted an update saying Elisha A. Pankey turned herself in on Wednesday, and she’s being held for investigation of child abuse resulting in death.

DPD says Aurora police gave information on the boy’s disappearance on Dec. 23. At some point during the investigation, officers ended up at a storage unit on E. Evans Avenue. That’s where they found the boy’s body inside one of the units.

The boy hasn’t officially been identified, but it’s believed he’s the same missing child. The Denver Post identified him as Caden McWilliams and cited homicide records saying that he was killed in May at the storage facility.

It’s not clear if any other suspects have been identified or if additional charges are pending against Pankey.

Denver police are asking for anyone with info on Pankey or her son to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP.