Body of missing 20-day-old infant found on remote slough in Northern California

KNIGHTS LANDING, Calif. -- Police say the body of a baby found in a swampy area in Northern California Wednesday is that of Justice Rees, a 20-day-old boy who was reported missing Monday.

His family and the community are in mourning after the body of the missing infant was found on the shores of a remote slough in Yolo County. The mother was discovered hysterical on the banks of the same shoreline 24 hours earlier, but so far, police say there's no clear evidence of foul play. An autopsy is set for Thursday morning.

"This touches the soul of every one of us," said Yolo County Sheriff Ed Prieto.

Yolo County Sheriff's office says they will look into all possibilities, including the claim made by the mother of a deceased infant that she and her son were abducted.

"All the information we have from her was sort of hysterical. She was crying, she was emotional. We couldn't get any real valuable information from her," said Prieto.

The family of little Justice Rees could be seen hugging just after word came in that the body of an infant was discovered along the banks of a rural slough in Yolo County.

"He was a good boy. He was only here for three weeks, less than three weeks, and he never had a chance," said paternal grandfather Randy Green.

The discovery was made just before 10 a.m. Searchers in a boat had to cut away brush along the shore to recover the body.

It's not far from where Justice's mother, Samantha Green, was found wet and crying Tuesday evening. Mother and son had been missing since Monday.

"It's like it's not real for me, it's like I can't imagine, you know. This whole house is full of baby clothes, bassinet., all that stuff," said the baby's paternal grandfather, Bill Rees.

The couple and baby lived at Bill Rees' home in Woodland.

"They loved baby Justice. Frank just loved to carry him around sometimes at night when he was, he was fussing. Samantha, gosh, I understand she's crushed," said Bill Rees.

Samantha Green was taken to a Woodland Hospital, but has since been released. So far, police have made no arrests.