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Las Vegas couple arrested after mother’s son was found dead near Lake Mead

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Cassie Smith
Booking photo of 20-year-old Cassie Smith, who is suspected of child abuse and neglect in connection to Sept. 3, 2018.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Las Vegas Metropolitan Police arrested a couple suspected of child abuse and neglect in connection to the death of the woman’s 3-year-old child.

Officers arrested 20-year-old Cassie Smith and 40-year-old Joshua Oxford Monday, hours after Smith told officers 3-year-old Daniel Theriot disappeared while they went to feed ducks in a park.

She told officers she turned her back on her son and then he was gone.

Following an unsuccessful search of the park, officers searched Smith’s boyfriend’s apartment where LVMPD said they found Oxford with Smith’s other son, who had signs of physical abuse.

The other child was taken to the hospital where he is being treated for his injuries. Child Protective Services took custody of that child.

Police said murder charges are pending in the case, depending on the cause and matter of death, which will be released after an autopsy is performed.

Smith’s booking photo was released Monday. Oxford’s booking photo was not yet available.