Missing Milwaukee mother, daughters found dead; boyfriend arrested in Memphis
02/16/2020 12:07 pm PST
via WITI:
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales confirmed that Amarah "Jerica" Banks, 26, and her daughters, Camaria Banks, 4, and Zaniya Ivery, 5, were found dead on Sunday in a rear garage near 47th Street and Burleigh Street -- a day after an Amber Alert was issued for the children. The boyfriend of the mother was taken into custody in Tennessee.
Chief Morales said Jerica Banks was reported missing to MPD by family on Feb. 9. It was later determined her children were also missing. Jerica's mother said the last time she saw the three was Feb. 7, was after a funeral for Jerica's 1-year-old son, Arzel. The boy died from natural causes. Jerica was dropped off at home with the kids -- and disappeared.
On Saturday, Feb. 15, MPD was notified by police in Memphis, Tennessee that they had contact with Arzel Ivery, 25, of Milwaukee -- Jerica Banks' boyfriend. WHBQ reported Ivery was arrested in Tennessee after a family member stated Ivery came home talking about an incident in Milwaukee.
MPD detectives went to Tennessee and spoke to Ivery. Chief Morales said Ivery provided information that brought investigators to the garage at Ivery's apartment building near 47th and Burleigh Sunday, where they discovered the three bodies.
Online court records in Wisconsin showed a felony charge of aggravated battery was issued Saturday against Ivery out of Milwaukee County, with an arrest warrant issued. Morales said the charges could be upgraded as soon as Monday -- when autopsies were scheduled.
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