William McQuain
Police say William McQuain was last seen on September 30 at his home. His mother was found dead on October 12. Montgomery County Police

A body in a wooded area Tuesday is believed to be that of 11-year-old William McQuain, who went missing more than two weeks ago, Montgomery County police said.

This is not the ending we were hoping for, everyone involved in this held on to a shred of hope that we would find William alive, said police spokesman Capt. Paul Starks.

The discovery of the boy's body comes six days after his mother, Jane McQuain, 51, was found murdered in their Germantown apartment on Oct. 12. She had been stabbed and beaten, according to the police, the Washington Post reported.

An Amber Alert was issued for the boy who was not at their apartment. Police say he was last seen on Sept. 30 at his home. Jane McQuain had reportedly been dead for about 10 to 12 days when her body was found. Her estranged husband, Curtis Lopez, 45, is the prime suspect in William's death, police said; Lopez has already been charged in her killing.

According to police, Lopez was often at McQuain's residence, although it did not appear that he lived there. Police said witnesses reported seeing him lead items into McQuain's vehicle.

A surveillance video obtained by the police on Oct. 1 show Lopez and 11-year-old William at a Germantown storage facility. Nothing appeared to be amiss.

William appears not to be in any amount of stress. He appears to be playful, Starks said.

A statement from police said the clothing that William McQuain was wearing in the video is similar to the clothing found on the body that was located. The body is believed to be in its location in a wooded area of the westbound shoulder off Route 121 near Route 355 in the Clarksburg area since Oct. 1.