Grandmother, 49, is arrested and sectioned under the Mental Health Act after her five-year-old grandson was stabbed to death as his parents pay tribute to the 'most beautiful child in the world'

• David-Mario Lazar was found with severe injuries on Poplar Road, in Earlsdon 
• Despite the efforts of emergency services he was confirmed dead at the scene 
• Today his devastated parents Cristina and Dorinel paid tribute to their son  
• Mario's grandmother Elena Anghel, 49, was arrested on suspicion of murder
• She has since been sectioned under the Mental Health Act

The grandmother of a five-year-old boy who was stabbed to death has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act - as the child's devastated parents paid tribute to him.   

David-Mario Lazar, known to his family and friends as Mario, was found with severe injuries on Poplar Road, in Earlsdon, Coventry on January 25.

Despite the efforts of emergency services he was confirmed dead at the scene and a post mortem has revealed he died as a result of a stab wound.

Mario's grandmother Elena Anghel, 49, was caring for him at the time and was arrested on suspicion of murder. She has since been sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

Friends explained that she regularly looked after the youngster after school while his parents worked. 

Pictures on social media show smiling Mario cuddling up to his grandmother and posing as a family in front of a Christmas tree. 

Today his devastated parents Cristina and Dorinel paid tribute to their son in a statement issued by West Midlands Police.

They said: 'Our son, he was the most beautiful child in the world.

'He was a very happy boy. He was always smiling from when he woke up to when he went to sleep.

'He had so much energy. He loved to dance and sing. He is all of our hearts, all our love and is everything to both of us.' 

Police had rushed to the scene in Poplar Road just after 5.55pm on Tuesday. 

The terraced property remains sealed off while officers carry out further forensic examinations.

Superintendent Ronan Tyrer, from Coventry Police, said: 'Our investigation continues into the desperately sad death of David-Mario.

'Our specialist officers are supporting his parents and we cannot comprehend the grief they must feel. Our thoughts are with them.

'David-Mario's school has been informed and they are contacting parents and carers of their pupils.

'The community are shocked and saddened by this young boy's death.

'We continue to urge people to avoid speculation on social media or sharing posts which could ultimately add to the family's distress.'

Neighbours previously described the boy's horrified mum frantically shouting 'my child, my child, call the police, call the police' as she ran to a nearby Co-Op for help.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said: 'We heard lots of screaming and shouting and the mum had run into the Co-Op saying her child had been taken.

'She was saying 'my child, my child' and repeatedly saying 'call the police'. She was in a lot of distress as you can imagine. It was nightmarish.

'We don't know if the boy was snatched from the home or found at the home, it is still quite confusing but a lot of people are saying he was stabbed, which would just be horrific.

'But police closed the shop so something has gone on there. It is just completely heartbreaking. I'm told they were a foreign family but I don't know where from.

'The police have made the cordon even bigger this morning, they have been knocking our doors and it has just been completely crazy.'