Las Vegas police searching for two parents whose 3-year-old daughter was found dead at their home recently said the couple may have fled to California with five of their children.
Police want to question Jondrew Lachaux, 39, and 38-year-old Kellie Phillips, after their young daughter was found dead Thursday and their 17-year-old daughter was arrested for alleged child abuse in connection to the girl’s death, as well as her own daughter’s hospitalization, police stated in a news release.
The 17-year-old was arrested Wednesday after her 4-month-old daughter was admitted to a local hospital in critical condition.
“She did not receive the proper care and nourishment that she needed at the time which is what led to the arrest of the 17-year-old,” Aaron Patty,with the North Las Vegas Police Department, told CNN.
Police subsequently served a search warrant at a home in the 6600 block of Wood Thrush Place (map) and discovered the 3-year-old’s body.
“She appeared to have been deceased for at least a few weeks, with no obvious cause of death” the press release stated.
Lachaux and Phillips left their 17 and 3-year-old daughters at the Las Vegas home alone and likely went to California, police said.
“We believe that they went to California at some time and may have gone back and forth during this multiple month process when they left,” Patty said. “We are asking for the assistance of the public in locating these individuals who we believe can answer many questions on what led up to the death of this child.”
The parents were believed to be with five of their children, ages 1 to 9 years old, the press release stated. Police did not say why the couple were believed to be in California.
Officials with the Los Angeles Police Department and L.A. County Sheriff’s Department told KTLA on Saturday that they were not asked to help in the investigation.
The 17-year-old was arrested for alleged child abuse in connection to her sister’s death and her infant daughter’s hospitalization. She was transported to the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the North Las Vegas Police Department at 702-633-9111. Those wishing to remain anonymous could call Crimestoppers at 702-385-5555.
CNN contributed to this report.
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