Detectives search landfill for body of missing 6-year-old; Mother, aunt charged in suspected murder

VICTORVILLE, Calif. (FOX 11) - Detectives, volunteers and search dogs searched a landfill in Victorville on Monday and Tuesday for the body of a missing 6-year-old boy.

Investigators believe that the body of 6-year-old Duke Flores may be in the 600 tons of waste material that floods the landfill.

The boy's mother, Jakee Raquel Contreras, 29, was arrested on Thursday night for child neglect after she failed to report her son missing. She allegedly told deputies that he hadn't been seen for over two weeks.

On Monday, she was charged alongside her sister, Jennifer Rachel Contreras, 29, by the district attorney's office on a count of murder in connection to the boy's suspected death. The two women pleaded not guilty during a Superior Court arraignment on Tuesday. Both were being held on $1,000,000 bail.

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Authorities have not revealed what happened to the boy but said that "due to investigative leads," detectives believe that Duke's body was placed in a dumpster.

Homicide detectives, sheriff's department volunteers and landfill personnel were actively searching the landfill in Victorville on Monday and Tuesday for Duke's body. According to the sheriff's office, the area being search is approximately 70 square feet in distance and 10 feet in depth.

Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this investigation to contact the Specialized Investigations Division, Detective Narcie Sousa at 909-387-3589 or Sheriff's dispatch at 909-387-8313. Callers can remain anonymous and contact We-Tip at (800)78-CRIME or www.wetip.com.