Child's Body Found In Heavily Wooded Area In Indiana, Investigation On

An investigation has been opened into the death of a child after his body was found in a heavily wooded area of Indiana's Washington County on Saturday night.

The police said they haven't identified the body yet. According to Sgt. Carey Huls of the Indiana State Police Post 45, the body of a Black male child was found by a man, who was mushroom hunting, reported Courier-Journal. The child may be between 5 and 8 years old, and is 4 feet tall with a slim build and has a short haircut.

The man immediately alerted authorities of the Washington County Sheriff's Office, following which detectives from the Indiana State Police branch in Sellersburg responded to the spot.

The officer added they were looking for the public's help to identify the child, or his parents or guardians. Huls told WDRB the child was found in a "very secluded area," but that "doesn't change the fact that somebody knows something."

"Very disturbing, very shocking, very traumatic event, very sad event not only for the person who located [the child] but for the officers also," Huls said.

Several detectives were reportedly investigating the child's death, Huls said, adding they've been working "nonstop" since the call came in Saturday night.

Though the cause or time of death is unclear, the officers believe the boy died in the past week. An autopsy is scheduled to take place soon.

Huls said they were not revealing other details, including where the child's body was found or what clothing he was found wearing in the woods, due to the ongoing investigation. However, the officers have contacted national, state and local agencies, seeking information on any possible missing children. So far, they have not found anything that's matched up.

"We're going to turn over every stone, we're going to look everywhere we have to," Huls said.

"Someone out there knows something," Huls said. "They might think, well I haven't seen so-and-so in a couple days and I'm getting odd answers from the people who were supposed to care for him. Someone knows something, and we want that person to call."

While the investigation officers are working with agencies in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio, anyone with information is asked to call ISP Sellersburg at (812) 248-4374 or 1-800-872-6743.