Las Vegas PD arrest mother in connection with 7-year-old boy’s death

June 9, 2021 Carley Shaffer US 0

This undated booking photo provided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department shows Samantha Moreno Rodriguez, 35, of San Jose, Calif. Rodriguez was arrested Tuesday, June 8, 2021, in Colorado less than 12 hours after she was identified by Las Vegas police as the suspect in the death of her 7-year-old son, whose body was found by hikers in Nevada more than 10 days ago. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department via AP)

This undated booking photo provided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department shows Samantha Moreno Rodriguez, 35, of San Jose, Calif. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department via AP)

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UPDATED 1:49 PM PT – Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Authorities in Las Vegas have arrested a woman in connection with the death of her son who disappeared earlier last month. On Tuesday, authorities arrested Samantha Moreno Rodriguez, 35, who they believe killed her son Liam Husted, 7. Police said they discovered Rodriguez hiding out in a hotel in Denver, Colorado.

On May 28, hikers discovered the young boy’s body off a trail near the main highway in Mountain Springs, Nevada. According to investigators, Liam was last seen in San Jose, California on May 24 when his father noticed he had vanished with his mother leaving behind a single note. The note described a rushed mother fleeing with her son to start a new life and that she was sorry it had to be this way.

A week after finding the letter, Liam was reported missing to authorities on June 1. The boy’s father initially declined to file a report because he didn’t want Rodriguez to face parental abduction charges. Police asked the public for assistance in identifying the boy, with investigators releasing sketches of what he looks like.

FILE - These artist's renderings created by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and distributed Thursday, June 3, 2021, by the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department depict a slain boy believed to be between the ages of 8 and 10 whose body was found Friday, May 28, 2021, off a hiking trail between Las Vegas and rural Pahrump, Nev. Authorities have identified the child as 7-year-old Liam Husted, from San Jose, California. Police said Monday, June 7, 2021, that his mother, Samantha Moreno Rodriguez, 35, is the suspect in his killing. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department via AP,File)

These artist’s renderings created by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children depict a slain boy believed to be between the ages of 8 and 10 whose body was found Friday, May 28, 2021, off a hiking trail between Las Vegas and rural Pahrump, Nev. Authorities have identified the child as 7-year-old Liam Husted. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department via AP,File)

Investigators said they received a tip from a family friend who was able to recognize the sketch as Liam.

Currently, Rodriguez is awaiting extradition from Colorado after being booked for one count of open murder. A possible motive for the murder has yet to be determined and an investigation is still ongoing.