A relative of 4-year-old Damari Carter, who was found dead , stuffed in a duffel bag, in March, spoke out about the " appalling " manner in which the authorities found the child.
Aiyana Parrish, sister of the boy's mother, according to ABC 6 , said she was "heartbroken" when she saw what happened on the news.
"The way they found him is appalling," Parrish told the local news station. "I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy for someone to find him like that. And I applaud that worker who found him."
READ MORE: Family are 'living nightmare' after boy, 4, found stuffed in duffel bag as mom and boyfriend arrested
She said she used to share a room with Damari's mother, Dominique Bailey, when they were kids and that she "never expected anything like that to come from her."
Damari's body was discovered by city workers in the Mantua neighborhood of Philadelphia on March 18, around the 600 block of N. 38th Street. An investigation into the boy's disappearance had begun in late December, when family members told the authorities they hadn't seen the child in weeks.
Bailey, 28, from Overbrook, another neighborhood in Philadelphia, and her boyfriend, Kevin Spencer, 30, from West Philadelphia, were promptly charged with murder. They also face charges of abuse of a corpse and a few others, too.
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At the time, Bailey reportedly told her family that her son had died after being hit by a car, but suspicions arose after the police found no evidence of such an event occurring — including the boy's body. When the police searched Spencer's home, they reportedly found a wealth of evidence pointing to a potential murder and could be seen carrying it out.
On Jan. 5, Bailey reportedly admitted to her involvement in Damari's death, stating that she watched her boyfriend beat the boy until his head was swollen and his eyes were blackened. She never intervened, and reportedly didn't even realize her son was dead until she went to kiss him goodnight.
The very next day, doorbell camera footage reportedly showed Spencer dragging the boy's lifeless corpse out of his home in a bag. It wouldn't be found and identified until months later.
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Parrish told ABC 6 that she was disappointed in what happened as she said that if her sister didn't want to raise Damari, the boy's father would have gladly taken him in. She said, "His father wanted him. Why wouldn't you just, if it was overwhelming, just give him to his father? He had everything Damari needed."
Darryle Carter, 42, told People , "Damari was my heart. I miss my little man. This is a nightmare to me. I just wish I could wake up."
The only thing left on Parrish's mind is justice for her sister's son. She said he can get a proper burial now, and the family can remember him for the "smiling, happy little boy" he was. His remains have not yet been released to the family.
Both Baily and Spencer are scheduled to appear in court for their preliminary hearing on June 18. ABC 6 received a statement from Bailey's lawyer that said she maintains her innocence.
Nakia Bailey, also Dominique's sister, previously told The Philadelphia Inquirer , "I'm just glad that his remains were found, because that was sitting not so well with any of the family, us not knowing where he was. We're still trying to wrap our heads around this situation happening at all. Innocence lost, for what? I'll never get to see him grow up. It's devastating."
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