5-year-old boy found dead under floorboards of Arkansas home, sister hospitalized

Ashley Rolland, 28, and Nathan Bridges, 33, have been charged with capital murder, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and endangering the welfare of a minor. They are currently being held in the Lee County Jail, according to Arkansas State Police.

Authorities belive that the boy died from injuries sustained approximately three months ago. The boy's 7-year-old sister was found severely malnourished, with cracked ribs and burns across her body.

According to a GoFundMe page set up by a friend named Anita Widby, the children's grandmother, identified as Karen, had been trying to gain custody for over a year, and had only just been allowed to see them every weekend.

"She went through the proper channels and 3 months ago she had to pay a ridiculous amount of money but just got her court order (this week) for her to see the kids every weekend," Widby explained.

When Karen arrived at the family home in the small community of Moro, Arkansas, on Friday to pick up her grandchildren, she was told her grandson was at a friend's house.

She subsequently discovered her grandaughter in poor condition and unable to walk, and immediately had her rushed to the local hospital.

"I saw her," Widby stated, "this child's hair had been chopped off, she is malnourished, cracked ribs, and many many burns on her body in various stages of healing."

"These injuries are presumed to be from her mother and the mother's boyfriend," she added.

The girl was transferred to Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, approximately 70 miles away.

Karen was informed later that day that the boy's decomposing body had been discovered beneath the floorboards.

The girl is currently in stable condition.