A little boy was dragged to his death as he clung onto a car while his mum tried to abandon him, reports say.
James Hutchinson, six, had been reported missing from Middletown, Ohio on February 28.
A police search was launched, with locals also coming out to try and help find the child.
But further questioning of mum Brittany Gosney, 29, revealed that James had been killed days earlier before being dumped in a river.
According to WHIOTV7, she had been pressured into fleeing the family by boyfriend James Hamilton, 42.
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An incident report said Gosney had tried to drive away from the children, but little James grabbed the door handle to the minivan.
Investigators said the mum "slammed the gas trying to leave the kids" before dragging her son who had tried to get back in, "possibly running him over".
They added: "Brittany turned the vehicle around to check on Hutchinson and he was dead."
The mum then loaded her two other children, nine and seven, and James into the van and drove them home, reports say.
The body was stored in a spare room in the house before Gosney and Hamilton drove to the Ohio River and dumped the body, it is said.
Biological father Lewis Hutchinson has since spoken out about the tragic death.
Lewis Hutchinson told NEWS4 : "All she had to do was give him to me. She could have dropped him off at my sister’s house.
"I don’t understand what would drive somebody to be a monster like that."
Both the mum and her boyfriend have now been charged with various crimes, police said.
James' body is yet to be recovered as the Ohio river is too high to search, according to reports.
Middletown Division of Police said: "Brittany Gosney, age 29, was charged with Murder, Abuse of a Corpse and Tampering with Evidence.
"James Hamilton, age 42, was charged with Abuse of a Corpse and Tampering with Evidence.
"Two other children in the household have been removed from the residence."
Sheriff Richard Jones said to FOX19NOW : "I’ve never seen such an outpouring from the community. This little boy is an angel now.
"He’s one of God’s little angels now and he’s feeling no pain, but we’ve got to find him and give it closure and so we are making everything, every piece of equipment we have, available if they need it and when they need it whether it be tomorrow, Friday or throughout the weekend."
Both Gosney and Hamilton are due in court next week, reports say.
