NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. (KDKA) – It’s been 22 days because the physique of 9-year-old Azuree Charles was present in a wooded space behind his New Kensington house. Investigators say it was a murder.

On Thursday, in an unrelated case, the boy’s father was in courtroom on fees he assaulted the kid months earlier than the boy’s loss of life. 

Luella Elien stated she was in full disbelief when investigators instructed her her son was useless and nonetheless cannot come to phrases with it.

“He was supposed to grow up. He was supposed to be great. He was supposed to be something special,” she stated.

On May 4, the boy’s body was found beneath a folding chair in woods behind his East Ken Manor house.

“I woke up, he wasn’t in his room. I assumed he ran away, he tried to do it before,” she stated. 

But this time was tragically completely different. Investigators instructed Elien her boy was not coming house.

“I thought they were like joking. I thought they were playing. I didn’t think they were serious. It’s not until I got home and saw caution tape all over my house, that’s when they told me he was really dead,” she stated. 

Elien attended what was to be the preliminary listening to for Jean Charles. The 40-year-old and father to Azuree allegedly punched the boy for being too loud in November of final yr. The listening to was waived to courtroom. 

Charles stays held with out bond on assault fees. His formal arraignment is July 26.

Officials stated they’ve an individual of curiosity within the 9-year-old’s murder, however nobody has been charged but.