‘He didn’t deserve that:’ Family heartbroken after missing teen’s body found behind townhomes

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The family of a missing boy is heartbroken after they say his body was found in the woods next to a townhome community.

They want answers and are waiting for more information from investigators.

Jamiren Crosby’s family told Channel 2′s Candace McCowan that he was last seen alive sometime overnight Saturday into Sunday, and they’ve been searching for him ever since.

Virginia Montgomery was walking her child home from school through Lithonia Community Park when they spotted a blue tarp.

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“I saw it. I said, ‘Wait a minute. That looks like somebody laying there,’” Montgomery said. “Whoever did this, y’all wrong.”

DeKalb County police responded to the townhome community on Parkway Trail shortly before 4:30 p.m. Monday.

Moments later, the area was covered in crime tape, with investigators and eventually the medical examiner walking in and out of the brush line behind the townhomes.

Soon, the family of Jamiren Crosby showed up.

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“He was missing since Saturday. We went out looking for him, me and his auntie. We were out searching for like 6 hours,” family member Sunni Broughton said.

“(There was) about 25 of us looking at the park, different parks, the high school,” family member Brittanie Malone said.

Family had sent out fliers and even searched nearby Sunday night after getting a tip.

They’re left with many questions, including why Jamiren was there, almost 10 minutes from his home.

“He didn’t deserve that, what happened to him. He didn’t,” Malone said. “He’s a sweet child.”

Jamiren’s family and classmates are now anxious for answers.

“I’ve never seen anybody laying in the woods like that,” Montgomery said.

DeKalb County police said they are still working to determine the boy’s cause of death.

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