12-year-old's 'decomposing' body found in Milwaukee home, homicide investigation underway

Authorities in Milwaukee say they are investigating after finding the "decomposing" body of a malnourished 12-year-old boy inside his family's home this week.

The child's family identified the boy as Jacarie Robinson, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network.

The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office says the death is being investigated as a homicide.

The Milwaukee Police Department reported on X that officers responded Tuesday at 6:10 p.m. to a home in the city's northwest side and found the child unresponsive.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The department initially labeled the death as "suspicious."

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No arrests have been made

Police reportedly found Jacarie's body inside the home and, as of Friday morning, had not announced any arrests in connection to his death.

It’s unclear when the boy died, according to the medical examiner’s office.

The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, required by state law to provide public notice of child deaths and injuries due to suspected maltreatment, has opened an investigation into the case.

The notification did not indicate Jacarie’s family had previous contact with the child welfare system.

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Family members reeling from boy's death

D.C. Moye, an uncle of the boy, said Jacarie − the youngest of 10 children in his family − had been living with his father and two sisters in the home where he was found.

He said he "had no idea what could have gone wrong."

Moye and another relatives said there was a certain amount of distance between them, Jacarie and the rest of his immediate family.

“Not as close as I should have been, seeing the situation,” Moye said. “Was anything going on out of the ordinary that I should have known about, or any signs that I missed?”

Remembering Jacarie Robinson

Jacarie was described as a happy but quiet child who enjoyed wrestling and TikTok videos, according to his uncle and an aunt, Lauren Moye.

Other members of Jacarie’s family gathered for a vigil and balloon release Wednesday. Several family members told media there that the large family had been split up. They hadn’t seen Jacarie for several months and assumed things were fine.

The boy's aunt said she hadn’t seen Jacarie for years but he would sometimes message her on Facebook, asking what she was up to. When she answered and asked the same question back, Jacarie’s usual reply was “nothing.”

“My brother didn’t really tell me much about him,” she said.

Dylan Detert, who owns the property where Jacarie was found, said he rented the home to a tenant but that he wasn’t sure if someone was actually living there.

However, D.C. Moye said he periodically visited his brother − Jacarie’s father − at that home.

When was Jacarie last seen by other family members?

His most recent visit was in late September and said Jacarie appeared to be fine. D.C. Moye said he never went inside the home when he visited and would normally just speak with his brother outside.

In the days since the death, D.C. Moye said he has come to realize that Jacarie hadn't been in school for some time. The last he knew that Jacarie was attending school in person was before the COVID-19 pandemic.

D.C. and Lauren Moye said they have not heard from Jacarie’s father since the young boy's body was found.

“He’s not answering anyone’s calls,” Lauren Moye said.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Milwaukee police at 414-935-7360 or Crime Stoppers at 414-224-Tips.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund. Contact Elliot Hughes at elliot.hughes@jrn.com or 414-704-8958. Follow him on Twitter @elliothughes12.