SOUTH BEND, Ind. — An Elkhart County mother who was reported missing with her 5-month-old son last week has reportedly been found deceased.
WNDU reports 27-year-old Alexis Morales was found dead Tuesday evening, one week after she and her son were reported missing in South Bend.
Morales' 5-month-old son, Messiah, was taken to the hospital, reportedly uninjured and in good condition.
“Tough every time we have to deal with situations like ... the kind of week that we’ve had, tears your heart out, it really does,” said South Bend Police Capt. Joe Leszczynski.
South Bend police found the SUV in which Morales was last seen in an alley Tuesday evening. Officers found the vehicle while investigating reports that it had been spotted in the area.
Police said the woman and her child were found inside the SUV.
On Wednesday, police said Morales' injuries made it evident her death was a homicide, but did not specify what those injuries were. An autopsy is planned for Friday.
There is no information at this time about a potential suspect in Morales' death.
A Silver Alert was issued for Morales and her son out of Elkhart County on Monday.
Police said Alexis was seen around 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12 leaving Kelly Park on Howard Street in South Bend. She was seen getting into her silver 2006 BMW X5 SUV with her son. The vehicle's license plate reads "MULA LUV."
The Elkhart County Sheriff's Office posted photos of Alexis and Messiah Morales to Facebook on April 13, seeking help from the public in finding them.
Morales reportedly told friends she was going back to her home in New Paris, Indiana, about 35 miles southeast of South Bend.
The location where the SUV was found is about four miles west of Kelly Park.
Police are still investigating the circumstances around Morales' disappearance and the events that led up to her death.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: The sheriff's department initially reported Morales was seen leaving Howard Park. This story has been updated to reflect the new information.)
Amber Alert vs. Silver Alert: What's the difference?
There are specific standards a person's disappearance must meet in order for police to declare an Amber Alert or a Silver Alert.
Amber Alerts are for children under the age of 18 who are believed to have been abducted and in danger. Police also need to have information about a suspect and their car to issue an Amber Alert.
Silver Alerts are for missing and endangered adults or children. They are much more common for missing people. It was not until last year when the standards for Silver Alerts were expanded to include children.
In both situations, these alerts must be issued by police.
