Photo: Joe Raedle / Getty Images
A Minnesota mother was arrested for allegedly murdering her 6-year-old son and putting his body inside the trunk of her vehicle, precisely when he had just been awarded custody of the child.
Authorities found the body of Eli Hart, 6 years old, in the trunk of her mother’s Chevy Impala during a traffic stop in Mound, Minnesota, reported ABC 5.
The woman identified as Julissa Thaler, aged 28 years , was arrested after officers noticed blood inside her vehicle, so they proceeded to search it.
The minor’s father, Tory Hart, made multiple complaints about Thaler’s drug and mental health problems, however, the courts ignored it, according to the report.
Despite the complaints, full parental custody was granted to the woman only 10 days before the child’s body was discovered.
Family members identified the victim to WCCO as Eli Hart and his mother as Julissa Thaler. They said Eli’s father was trying to win custody at the time of his death from him. https://t.co/7GrTrhY6hX
—WTVG 11abc (@13abc) May 23, 2022
For her part, Tory Hart’s fiancée, Josie Josephson, said the court failed to hand Eli over to Thaler despite his mental health and substance abuse issues, Fox reported. 9.
“No matter how many cries we cried, we were ignored,” said Josephson. “It doesn’t matter how many warning signs there are.”
Court reports from family show that several social workers were concerned about the mother’s mental problems, her unstable living situation, and her criminal record.
A document posted on the social network Twitter by a WCCO-CBS reporter Minnesota said it has received multiple traffic violations for speeding or cell phone use while driving and has a hearing in June on pharmaceutical theft.
Another report revealed that her mother was endangering the relationship with the minor with her biological father, despite because he seemed like a “stabilizing force” in Eli’s life.
Documents from Dakota County court detail concerns social workers had about Thaler’s mental health, criminal history and living situation.
Still, she was granted full parental custody on 5/10 and the case was dismissed. @WCCO #WCCO pic.twitter.com/gE2dzQ7lyY— Adam Duxter (@AdamDuxter) May 11, 2022
Tony Hart could not have a relationship with his son until the beginning of 2021 for his mother’s efforts to block him out of her life, said the man’s fiancee.
Boy’s foster parent said their relationship was powerful from the beginning they met.
“Eli fell in love with her father and loved spending time with him,” he wrote on a GoFundMe page. “Tory was excited to make up for all the lost years and excited to start teaching her son how to fish and ride a bike without training wheels.”
NEW: A small memorial sits outside Shirley Hills Primary School in Mound. It’s been two days since a 6-year-old, identified by family as Eli, was found dead inside the trunk of a car during a traffic stop. @kare10 pic.twitter.com/dIDo5AG2xd— Charmaine Nero (@ CneroTV) May 22, 2022
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