More Tests Needed on Body Found in Freezer, Cops Say

The mystery of what happened to 11-year-old Janiya Thomas will remain as such for a little while longer.

That’s the latest word from the Bradenton Police Department after an autopsy was performed on a child’s body recovered from a freezer over the weekend. The Manatee County Medical Examiner’s Officer performed the autopsy on Wednesday, the police department reported, but isn’t prepared to make a statement just yet.

“Due to the circumstances, further medical examination and testing is required,” Capt. William Fowler announced in a media release. “Therefore, a positive identification of the body and the results of the autopsy will be not be released at this time.”

Thomas was reported missing on Friday after Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Child Protective Investigators arrived at her mother’s home to remove five children from the woman’s custody. The problem was only four children were found at the 4880 51st St. W. home.

When the child’s mother, Keishanna Thomas, 31, was questioned about Janiya’s whereabouts, she refused to talk, deputies said.

The Bradenton Police Department got involved in the search over the weekend and received a tip that the child might be in a freezer at her grandmother and aunt’s home on 21st Way East. When police searched the freezer, they found a body that is believed to belong to Janiya, they said.

Janiya, who suffers from a medical condition that prompted her to be home-schooled, is believed to have been missing since August 2014, the Bradenton Herald reported. It is unclear why an official search for the child didn’t begin until Friday.

Keishanna Thomas is being held in the Manatee County Jail without bond on aggravated child abuse and contempt of court charges.

No further information is being released by police at this time.

Photos courtesy of the Bradenton Police Department