MITCHELL, S.D. – Police said Thursday they were investigating a couple who traveled from Washington state with the body of an eight-year-old girl.
The police department said the couple had driven a rented trailer with a coffin containing the body of the girl, who had been adopted by the woman arrested. The couple had informed the Davison County Coroner that they were traveling from Washington state to Pine Ridge in the western part of the state.
The man and woman told investigators that the girl died earlier in the fall, but gave different dates. The man told investigators that they had not told authorities about the death because they wanted to spend more time with the girl and were concerned they would “get in trouble.”
Both were charged with failing to notify law enforcement of the death of a child and the investigation is ongoing.
The Davison County Jail confirmed that the man and woman were being held.
