Aiden Scott Bevins was found buried in a backyard May 15. The father is now under arrest on suspicion of murder.
ABERDEEN, Wash. — The father of 4-year-old Aiden Bevins admitted to police that he buried his son under his Aberdeen home prior to his arrest, according to a statement of probable cause.
Aiden was found inside a tote wrapped placed in a garbage bag after being missing for a year. A child abuse expert pediatrician ruled Aiden’s injuries appear to be the result of blunt force trauma.
The 36-year-old man, who has not been formally charged, told police Aiden struck his head and later died. However, a child abuse expert pediatrician reviewed preliminary findings of Aiden’s death and found they were not consistent with how the father described them.
The man was arrested for second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, unlawful disposal of remains and making false statements.
A probable cause hearing is scheduled for Friday afternoon.
Charges are expected to be filed by Monday.
Aberdeen police said they responded to a reported missing child complaint involving the suspect’s 6-year-old daughter on May 12. Officers determined the child was with her mother, and the matter was a custodial issue and not criminal.
Relatives told KING 5 they requested a welfare check after not seeing Aiden for an extended period. Aberdeen police said they inquired about Aiden’s whereabouts, and his father initially said the child was staying with a relative out of state. Detectives contacted the relative who said the child had never been in their care.
On May 15, investigators with Aberdeen police and the Washington State Patrol Crime Scene Response Team found the child’s body buried on property owned by his grandmother, where relatives said she and Aiden’s father had been living.
A couple who said they previously fostered Aiden told KING 5 they had raised concerns about him being reunited with his biological parents, but no action was taken. Gary and Magali Lopez said they cared for Aiden from ages 1 to 3.
“Something that we had been dreading … a fear of ours ever since he left,” Gary said.
When Aiden had visits with his biological parents, the couple said he’d come back dirty. They said they were concerned he wasn’t eating enough and was being put in dangerous situations.
The couple said they contacted Child Protective Services multiple times, but Aiden was still placed back with his biological parents.
Magali said they continuously raised concerns and pointed out red flags to the appropriate agencies, including his social worker and their foster agency. When he was returned to his biological parents they contacted the Department of Children, Youth and Families at least three times, she said. They also messaged his biological parents and called them.
The man is being held at Aberdeen City Jail before being transferred to Grays Harbor County Jail.
“I can’t explain to you the anger that I feel,” Magali Lopez told KING 5 on Thursday. “Everyone failed him.”
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