BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — The mother of a missing Florida girl remains in jail on aggravated child abuse and contempt of court charges.
Thirty-one-year-old Keishanna Thomas was booked into jail on Friday after refusing to answer questions about the whereabouts of 11-year-old Janiya Thomas. The child abuse charges were added Monday.
Child protective services officials went to her Bradenton apartment Friday to take custody of her five children. But they only found four.
Police say Janiya has been missing for a year or more, but authorities didn’t know she was missing until Friday.
Police say Keishanna Thomas dropped off a padlocked freezer at her mother’s house last week. After Janiya was reported missing, the relatives opened it and found a body inside. Police say it’s likely Janiya.
It’s unclear whether Thomas has an attorney to contact for comment on the case.
