After a prolonged manhunt, Wisconsin law enforcement officials have finally apprehended a 45-year-old man, Romuan J. Moye, who was wanted for the alleged brutal murder of his 12-year-old son. Moye was arrested on Sunday and has been charged with first-degree reckless homicide, three counts of chronic child neglect, and one count of failure to report a child’s death, according to court documents.
The charges against Moye are linked to the tragic death of his son, Jacarie Robinson. The first count of chronic neglect, which resulted in death, is tied to Moye’s alleged failure to provide adequate nutrition for his son. The other two counts of chronic neglect are related to Moye’s alleged failure to seek medical attention for his son’s multiple bone fractures and the reportedly unsanitary conditions of their home.
The arrest of Moye comes four months after Jacarie’s lifeless body was discovered in an advanced state of decomposition in Moye’s residence. The body was found by Jacarie’s brother. Authorities revealed that a seemingly minor tip from an external source led them to Moye after months of searching.
Thomas Kotnik, a member of the Milwaukee Police Department’s Special Investigation Fugitive Apprehension Division, expressed relief at the arrest. He acknowledged the public’s concerns over the duration of the search and assured that the arrest was a step in the right direction.
Detective Mike Driscoll revealed that Moye vanished after Jacarie’s body was discovered. He described the case as incredibly sad, noting that Moye allegedly withheld food from his son as a form of discipline.
The tragic discovery of Jacarie’s body was made on October 10, when police responded to a call at an apartment complex in Milwaukee. The caller, identified as Moye’s 22-year-old son, reported a deceased child in the residence. He told the police that his three younger brothers, aged 17, 15, and 12, usually lived with Moye. However, the two older children had been staying with their mother for a few weeks, leaving the youngest, Jacarie, under Moye’s care.
The 22-year-old son recounted his father’s strange behavior in the days leading up to the discovery. He also shared that Moye had been keeping Jacarie away from the family, claiming the boy had been misbehaving. He remembered seeing Jacarie looking extremely thin on his last birthday in August.
The investigation revealed a disturbing scene at Moye’s residence. Detectives described an overpowering smell of mold, feces, and decay. The kitchen was filled with garbage, moldy food, and the bathroom was in a similar state. The autopsy report of the victim showed that he was severely malnourished, with maggots covering his face and mouth. The boy’s body weighed only 54 pounds at the time of the autopsy.