Dad "prime suspect" in murder of 8-month-old son; lied about abduction by "two men" (Carthage, Missouri)

Dad EDDIE SALAZAR SR. is now the "prime suspect" in the murder of his 8-month-old son. The baby's body was recovered from a local river. Dad has admitted lying about the mysterious two men in ski masks who reportedly broke into his home and "abducted" the baby last week.

http://www.carthagepress.com/news/x1124762534/BREAKING-NEWS-Child-s-father-emerges-as-prime-suspect-in-death

BREAKING NEWS: Child’s father emerges as prime suspect in death

By John Hacker
Carthage Press
Sat Feb 06, 2010, 06:22 PM CST

CARTHAGE, Mo. -

Carthage police say Eddie Salazar Sr., 28, the father of the missing eight-month-old baby who was found dead on Saturday in the Spring River, is the prime suspect in his son’s death.

In a press conference on Saturday afternoon, Carthage Police Chief Greg Dagnan said investigators have determined that Salazar Sr., lied to police when he reported that two men in ski masks broke into his home at 227 E. Mound St. late Thursday and took Eddie Salazar Jr. from his bed.

Dagnan said Salazar Sr. gave police the name of a man he said was one of the people who broke into the home. Police found that person early morning on Saturday and they were able to rule that person out as a suspect.

At that point, Salazar Sr. admitted he lied to police and was charged with filing a false police report, a class B misdemeanor. As of Saturday afternoon, Salazar Sr. was being held in the Carthage City Jail on $100,000 bond.

At 3:30 p.m., Jasper County Sheriff Archie Dunn told reporters at a bridge over the Spring River east of Carthage that the body of a baby had been recovered from the river at about 3 p.m.

Police say they believe the body to be that of Eddie Salazar Jr.

Police said Carthage investigators and the investigators from a number of other area agencies will continue to follow leads through Saturday night.

A press conference was scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Carthage Memorial Hall.