The devastated family of a Wisconsin boy found dead in a dumpster is trying to understand why someone would hurt an innocent child. Prince Rashon McCree, 5, went missing from his home in Milwaukee on October 25. Less than a day after he was last seen alive, Prince's body was discovered.
The Milwaukee Police Department shared it has arrested two people of interest, a 27-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy, in connection with the case. Friends and neighbors are heartbroken for the family who must live without their precious boy.
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Prince's father awoke from a nap to find his son missing.
Darron McCree told WDJT his son was playing when he lay down for a nap Wednesday morning at the family's home near 54th and Meinecke. When he woke up, Prince was gone.
The father told the news station his son would have never left alone and that he was a good kid. The family reported Prince missing, and Milwaukee police began searching for a "critical missing person."
The family was distraught.
State Senator LaTonya Johnson lives near the home and told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the family was desperate to find their son. She said they went door-to-door, looking for help.
"They were distraught," Johnson told the newspaper "It was a shock. This neighborhood is relatively quiet. You don't see a lot of police activity. We knew it was something serious."
Johnson explained to the news outlet that the search for Prince did not qualify for an Amber Alert because police didn't have sufficient information about a suspect or a vehicle when the boy disappeared.
Investigators located his body less than a mile from home.
Police said Prince's body was found just before 9 a.m. Thursday in a dumpster in the 5500 block of West Vliet Street, just nine blocks from his family's home. Shortly afterward, police took two males into custody. Johnson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel the pair allegedly lived together in the same house with Prince, but she was unsure if they were related.
Prince's family's grief is palpable.
Both of Prince's parents, McCree and Jordan Barger, took to social media to share their heartache.
"How could this be possible…..my heart is broken.. my baby has been stolen from us far to early never in a billion years could could it be imagined…," McCree wrote. "Your light was far to bright and your heart was far to pure… it's so hard for me to think about saying good-bye to you but you but I know your soul is peacefully resting…. And your life deserves to be celebrated!!!!!"
Barger shared a similar post.
"I CANT…. THIS IS THE HARDEST THING I COULD EVER GO THROUGH KNOWING I CANT HUG, KISS, TOUCH, OR TALK TO YOU ANYMORE IT HURTS SO MUCH JUST KNOW MY ANGEL BABY MOMMY WILL NEVER STOP THINKING ABOUT YOU OR LOVING YOU. I JUST KNOW YOUR IN A BETTER PLACE NOW AND WILL DEFINITELY BE MISSED BY SO MANY PEOPLE RISE UP MY PRINCE TO WHERE THE THRONE IS WAITING
FOR YOU I LOVE YOU BABY SOOO MUCH," she wrote.
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The family established a GoFundMe for Prince's parents.
Marie Stillo, Barger's cousin, started the campaign. She said they are all heartbroken by the shocking loss of Prince. She set an initial goal of $10,000 and has received donations of more than $14,000.
"My deepest sympathies, and prayers to your family during this senseless tragedy. I pray for your peace and comfort in the days ahead," one donor wrote.
Many more shared prayers.
"I saw the senseless act of what happened to sweet Prince on TV. Praying for the family, and for special blessings to be bestowed upon Prince while he shines bright in Heaven," another comment reads.
Police have not released a cause of death, and charges have yet to be filed.
