Toddler's Body Found in Basement

By Tiffany Pelt, KCBD News

January 13, 2013 Updated Jan 11, 2013 at 8:54 PM PDT

(KCBD) The FBI has found the dead body of missing 2-year-old Leah Marie Aguirre in the basement of a home in Crosbyton, Texas.

According to Crosbyton Police Chief Greg Parrott Leah's body was found in a box in the basement wrapped in plastic and intentionally hidden.

The homeowner is Matilda Almaraz, who was Leah's temporary caregiver at the time of her disappearance.

Parrott says after questioning her all day, they arrested her and charged her with capital murder.

Leah's mother Tina Aguirre had given temporary custody of her daughter to Almaraz back in September while she took care of a sick aunt. Tina only knew Almaraz through a friend on Facebook, and says she rarely saw Leah after that. She says the last time she was able to get a hold of Almaraz was on Christmas Eve.

Weeks later, Almaraz told police that a man going by the name Miguel posed as a CPS worker and took Leah back on January 3rd. She didn't report Leah missing until days later on January 8th.

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