Missing Wisconsin 2-year-old Toddler Found Dead In Vehicle Trunk

Isaiah Theis

Toddler's body was found inside a locked vehicle trunk near his home.

By H. Nelson Goodson

July 18, 2013

Balsam Lake, WI - On Wednesday, the body of Isaiah Theis, 2, was discovered inside a locked vehicle trunk by a deputy around 10:15 p.m., according to Polk County Sheriff Peter Johnson. Johnson said, it's to early to speculate about the toddler's death.

Theis was reported missing around 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday by his mother after he was last seen playing with his 5-year-old brother. More than 2,300 people volunteered to search a wooded area and fields in western Wisconsin near Centuria where Theis's was reported missing. The temperature on Wednesday climbed to 91 degrees and was a very humid day.

The same vehicle was inspected earlier, but the trunk was never opened until Wednesday night, shortly after the search ended for the night. Sheriff Johnson told media outlets to wait for the autopsy report before speculating about the toddler's death. 

The vehicle had been kept locked and authorities are trying to determine how the toddler's body ended up in the trunk.

Foul play has not been ruled out pending the autopsy report.