Remains found in hunt for missing boy

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MIAMI, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Investigators are trying to determine whether human remains found in a South Florida yard are those of a young boy who has not been seen for more than a year.

Dontrell Melvin's parents, Brittney Sierra, 21, and Calvin Melvin Jr., 27, of Hallandale were charged Friday with neglect, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported. Police said they could face homicide charges.

Dontrell, who would turn 2 next month if he is still alive, was about 5 months old when he was last seen.

Authorities were unaware of his disappearance until a social worker responding to a tip about child neglect discovered Wednesday there were only two children in the home instead of the expected three.

Both parents said at first the boy was with relatives, Calvin Melvin telling police his parents had the child and Sierra saying the boy was with her parents, police said.

Calvin Melvin then said he had dropped the boy off at a fire station under the safe haven program.

Hallandale Beach Police Chief Dwayne Flournoy said the couple are blaming each other for Dontrell's death.

They also reportedly suggested investigators dig in the yard of their former home.

"Their conspiracy to hide the whereabouts of the child after the child was missing is apparent, that's what we know," Flournoy said. "Prior to the disappearance, that's what we're not sure of."

Sierra is the mother of three children, two of them with Melvin. Another son was born after Dontrell vanished.