Mystery deepens as missing 2-year-old is found dead near family home after vanishing while his parents slept

A TODDLER has been found dead near his family's home after vanishing while his dad slept - but mystery surrounds his disappearance.

Ares Muse, two, was found dead on September 12, just hours after he allegedly went missing from his home in the middle of the night.

Ares was last seen in his home - located on tribal land - at about 1.30am on Monday, according to the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthouse Police Department.

It is believed that the boy escaped the Okemah, Oklahoma home between 130am and 630am Monday morning.

The boy's father, Nikita, alleges that Ares had crawled into bed with his parents.

But when they woke up, the boy was nowhere to be found.

A multi-agency search spanned over 12 hours as authorities tried to locate the boy.

Ares' body was found at around 6 pm Monday evening, more than a half mile from the home.

The toddler's cause of death was not immediately clear.

Over 20 agencies assisted in the search for the boy, according to KTUL.

An official investigation is underway, but authorities have not yet deemed it criminal in nature.

The boy's family is reportedly cooperating with law enforcement officials, according to Jason Salsman, a spokesperson for the Muscogee Nation.

'PRIDE AND JOY'

Salsman also said during a news briefing that Ares reportedly managed to unlock three different locks to escape the home.

“We talked all day long about wanting a good outcome, and we didn’t get that,” Salsman said.

“It’s unfortunate, but that doesn’t take away from the effort and from how we need to be there in our hearts and minds for this family.”

The U.S. Sun has reached out to Salsman for additional information.

Eric Foster with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said the agencies involved were from the tribal, local, state, and federal levels.

“We hate to be able to give news like this, it’s very unfortunate. But we do come together,” Foster said.

“And we had a lot of citizens reach out as well wanting to help, and that’s just Oklahoma and we are proud to be a part of that.”

Ares' grandmother spoke to KOCO 5, telling the outlet that the young boy was "the family's pride and joy."

The grandmother added that he loved helping his father and dying Easter eggs.

She shared a photo of Ares being held by his father the day he was born.

Other highlights from the boy's life included his first bath and his first "big boy bed," as she described to the outlet.

'ARES WAS A SWEET BOY'

A GoFundMe has been started to support the family during this time.

Brandi Gaither, who claims to be a grandmother of the boy, organized the fundraiser and set a goal of $5,000.

More than $1,200 has already been raised.

"I am asking for help for the family for the funeral costs and whatever they need help with," the description reads.

"Ares was a sweet boy. Just short of his 3rd birthday.

"He loved his mom, dad and sister very much and was a second son to his aunt.

"The hole that is left in all our hearts will never be filled."