Day care worker jailed day after child’s body found

Published 4:49 pm Tuesday, August 22, 2017

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — A 46-year-old woman is in custody in connection with the death of a 5-year-old boy’s death.

Police say Valarie Patterson, of Mobile, was arrested on a charge of corpse abuse.

WALA-TV reports District Attorney Ashley Rich confirmed that Tuesday’s arrest was related to the finding of Kamden Johnson’s body. Further details were not provided.

At a news conference Tuesday, Police Chief Lawrence Battiste said Patterson turned herself in late Monday night. She is an employee at Community Nursery and Preschool Academy.

Battiste says authorities are awaiting the results of an autopsy and that additional charges could be filed.

Email newsletter signup

Earlier, passersby stopped at the scene where the boy’s body was found to put up balloons as a memorial.