Ill. mom allegedly kept 10-year-old dead son’s body in garbage for 8 months

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (TCD) -- A 37-year-old mother is facing charges after she allegedly concealed her 10-year-old son’s death by keeping him in a trash can in her garage for several months.

According to WHBF-TV, on Wednesday, July 26, Rock Island Police Department officers went to a home on the 1700 block of 20 1/2 Avenue after receiving a call about a suspicious death. When they arrived, they found a deceased 10-year-old boy, who was later identified as Zion Staples.

Zion’s mother, Sushi Staples, was arrested on charges of concealment of death, obstructing justice, and failure to report the death of a child.

Rock Island County Coroner Brian Gustafson noted to WHBF Zion’s death is "considered suspicious and not natural."

KWQC-TV reports a woman called the Department of Children and Family Services several times over the last few months and told them Staples had been making concerning statements about how Christmas in her family would not look the same anymore. A DCFS caseworker went to Staples' home to conduct a welfare check, and Rock Island Police later discovered the body.

Rock Island County Jail records show Staples' bond is set at $500,000.

Court documents cited by the Quad City Times allege Staples moved her son’s body "from inside the residence to a large garbage bin that was located in the garage."

Police believe she "lied about the whereabouts of her son."

The Quad City Times reports Staples allegedly told police at first she did not even have a son and that his birth certificate was false. However, investigators said the boy died in December.

Gustafson, the coroner, said little information will be released because of the "extreme initiation of this investigation."

MORE:

• Coroner: 10-year-old’s death 'suspicious' in Rock Island - WHBF
• Police: Body of 10-year-old Rock Island boy was concealed in garage - Quad City Times
• 'Christmases will never be the same': Odd comment led to tip that found boy’s body - KWQC