AUTOPSY: Mariah Woods' body found in cushion cover with cement curb inside

(WITN)
Published: Jul. 18, 2018 at 1:40 PM EDT
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An autopsy released today says the body of an Onslow County toddler who was murdered last year was found in a couch cushion cover with a "large portion of a solid cement material" inside.

The body of Mariah Woods was found in a Pender County creek on December 2nd, several days after the three-year-old was found missing from her Onslow County home.

The autopsy confirmed that the child died from chloroform toxicity, but did not provide any more details about how that happened.

The body was found wrapped in three white plastic trash bags that were tied around the child's neck, according to the autopsy. It says the plaid couch cushion was weighted down by a portion of cement curbing.

The autopsy also documents several traumatic injuries that include an abrasion over the left upper eyelid, faint purple bruise near the eye, faint abrasions over the nose and beneath the chin, an abrasion over the mid-upper lip, and two hemorrhages of the scalp.

Earl Kimrey, the live-in boyfriend of Mariah's mother, has been charged with her murder along with felony child abuse.

Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty against Kimrey if he is convicted in the case.

The man pleaded not guilty during his arraignment back in February and is in jail awaiting trial.