Father, Girlfriend Charged In Connection To 7-Year-Old's Death

EDITOR'S NOTE: this story has been updated.

EAST POINT, GA -- Charges have been filed against the father of a missing 7-year-old girl, as investigators work to identity a body found in Lake Allatoona that may be the child.

Detectives with the East Point Police Department have charged Michael Deon Wash, 37, with one count of concealing the death of another, giving false statements, two counts of cruelty to children in the first degree, cruelty to children in the third degree and aggravated assault.

Wash's girlfriend, Lasherae Davis, 30, is also charged with concealing the death of another, giving false statements, party to the crime of aggravated assault, party to the crime of cruelty to children in the third degree and two counts of party to the crime of cruelty to children in the first degree.

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Police believe both residents are connected to the death of Kamaire Wash, who was last seen Wednesday evening, her father told authorities.

Investigators with the Bartow County Sheriff's Office as well as East Point police are waiting to hear from Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Crime Lab to determine if the body found in the lake could be that of Kamaire.

Capt. Russell Popham with East Point police said it could take "days" before the body can be positively identified, as they have to comb through DNA and forensics.

East Point police initially were told by Kamaire's father that she was last seen Wednesday evening and when he woke up the next day, the front door to their apartment unit was open and the child was gone, according to WSB-TV.

Once the family notified police of a possible missing child, officers and investigators with East Point police launched a search and interviewed members of the family.

However, with information from the Bartow sheriff's investigators and Georgia Bureau of Investigation, police suspended the search for the child and focused their efforts in solving a possible homicide case, WXIA-TV reports.

Fisherman at the lake called Bartow County 911 authorities reporting the discovery around 1:30 p.m. June 29 near the Interstate 75 overpass. Along with sheriff's deputies, Bartow County Fire Department, Bartow EMS, DNR and the Coroner's Office all responded to the scene to aid in the investigation and recover the body from the water.

11 Alive also notes the body found in the lake matches the description of Kamaire, but an official confirmation will come when the GBI's Crime Lab conducts an autopsy to determine a cause of death.

Return to Patch for updates.

Photo: Michael Deon Wash, left, and Lasherae Davis. Credit: East Point Police Department