HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – The grandfather of a 3-year-old boy who was found dead inside a Hollywood home last week said the toddler died of internal bleeding.
Although police haven't confirmed how Ahziya Osceola died, Kenneth Tommie told Local 10 News that the boy's death was no accident.
"He was stuffed in a trash bag," Tommie said Tuesday.
Hollywood police Chief Frank Fernandez said Ahziya's body was discovered late Thursday night inside the home where he lived with his father and stepmother.
Fernandez said the body was found "in an obscure location" of the house, but he didn't elaborate or say how the boy died.
However, Tommie said he believes that the internal bleeding that led to Ahziya's death was the result of abuse.
"That's what it leads to me," he said.
Tommie said Ahziya was stuffed into a trash bag and hidden inside a laundry room.
Ahziya was in the care of his father, Nelson Osceola, and stepmother, Analiz Osceola, at the time of his death. His stepmother reported him missing Thursday morning.
According to the Florida Department of Children and Families, there were four previous reports involving the Osceola family dating back to 2013.
The first report of substance abuse in 2013 was closed with "not substantiated" findings and "no indicators" of physical injury.
The second incident happened in January 2014 after the boy was found wandering in a hotel lobby while his mother, Karen Cypress, was under the influence in her room. That incident led to Nelson Osceola taking custody of Ahziya.
In April 2014 and again last month, reports of abuse by Nelson Osceola were closed.
Public records show that both parents have previously been arrested.
Analiz Osceola was involuntarily taken into custody for a psychological evaluation under the Baker Act.
A Broward County judge ordered that Ahziya's siblings remain under the care of family members while the police investigation into the boy's death continues.
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Ahziya Osceola, 3, was found dead inside his Hollywood home.