Samuel Jones

A search for a 4-year-old New Mexico boy led authorities Sunday to a deep, narrow hole in a neighbor's backyard where a police spokeswoman says a detective located the body of a child.
Carlsbad police said they are fairly sure the body is that of 4-year-old Samuel Jones, who was reported missing Saturday from his home next door and who was the subject of an Amber Alert issued late Saturday.
"We have reports of one missing child, and this child is right next door to the missing child's house," police spokeswoman Lt. Jennifer Moyers said, while adding that authorities cannot be positive the body is Samuel's until the body is retrieved.

Efforts to recover the body began Sunday afternoon, with a large tracked excavator on scene along with metal shoring typically used in pipeline construction projects.
A renewed house-to-house search had just started shortly after daybreak Sunday morning when a detective found the 14-inch-wide hole in the backyard of the home next door to Samuel's house, Moyers said.
The detective shined his flashlight down the hole and saw what appeared to be a body dressed in clothing Samuel was last wearing, Moyers said. Searchers later sent a camera down the hole and confirmed a child was about 30 feet down. Temperature and oxygen levels were later taken and showed no signs of life.
"The conditions are not favorable, not survivable," Moyers said.
The boy's mother and father were told of the discovery and were at the scene.
There is no indication of foul play, and police know of no history of child abuse at the home, but detectives are treating the case as a homicide as a precaution, Moyers said.
Samuel lived in the home with his parents and two older siblings, a boy and girl ages 6 and 7, Moyers said. Some young cousins were at the house Saturday when the boy was last seen playing in the yard.
The rural neighborhood is a mix of homes and vacant lots, and a 4-foot chain link separates the boy's home from his neighbor's. It's possible the boy could have climbed the fence and simply fallen into the hole, which was dry and may be deeper than the 30 feet where the body was wedged, Moyers said. There are no curbs or sidewalks in the neighborhood on the city's south side.
Getting the body out will be a long process, Moyer said. A specialized search and rescue team from Roswell was headed to Carlsbad at midday to oversee the operations.
"It's a little tricky in that you have to start to dig kind of away from the hole and dig at a slant until you get down deep enough to go laterally," Moyers said. "They're going to have to put in retaining so that the dirt doesn't cave in on what they've dug out."

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Wonder if he fell in the hole or was put in the hole. A 14-inch-wide hole that deep sure is a dangerous situation. It might be that he fell in and was wedged so tightly that he couldn't call out. Poor little thing.

Why did it take so long to find him?  
How can LE say no foul play is suspected this early in to the investigation? If the hole was not covered why do they have
"specialized search and rescue team from Roswell was headed to Carlsbad at midday to oversee the operations" to get his little body out?

The body of a 4-year-old boy was pulled from a 27-foot hole in Carlsbad, N.M., almost two days after the child went missing from his home next door, police said Monday.

The boy was identified as Samuel Jones, the subject of an Amber Alert, Capt. John Moyers said in a telephone interview.

The incident is still under investigation but it appears to be a tragic accident, Moyers said.

The hole is beside a fence near the house in which the boy, his parents and two older siblings live, Moyers said. The boy was last seen playing in the yard with relatives on Saturday.

Police believe the boy fell down the hole, which is 12 to 14 inches wide at the top and about 27 feet deep, Moyers said.

Initial reports said an Amber Alert had been issued because authorities feared that Johnson had been abducted.

On Sunday morning authorities found the hole and saw a body that was believed to be the boy’s. The alert was canceled Sunday night.
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Why I ask was this hole left open? Was it an old well? Was it a natural formation? Where are the state and city codes and laws that would stipulate that such hazards be covered? It perplexes me that this situation just waited for the chance to kill a little child without anyone thinking of the hazard it presented.

Samuel Jones (2007-2012)
Obituary



Funeral services for Samuel Jones, of Taylor Circle, will be held at 1 p.m. today (March 10) at the Walter Gerrells Performing Arts Center. Father Valentine Jankowski, OFM Conv., pastor of San Jose Catholic Church, will officiate. Interment will follow in the new section of Carlsbad Cemetery. Red balloons will be released after his burial. Services have been entrusted to West Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed at westfuneralhomellc.com
Samuel "Sammy" Scott Jones was born Aug. 7, 2007, in Carlsbad, N.M., and was granted his angel wings Monday, March 5, 2012. He was 4 years old. His loving parents are Randy Scott Jones and Nancy Guillen Jones. He brought much joy and happiness to his family and all who knew him. Sammy loved to dance, sing and play baseball. He also loved monster trucks, the color red and Spider-man. "The Sandlot" was his favorite movie. He was his mommy's partner every day and enjoyed spending time with his daddy fishing, hunting and cooking out. He also enjoyed playing with his brother, sister and his neighbor, "Neenee" Sabrina. When he broke something, it was never him, but "Javi!"
Samuel is survived by his loving parents, Randy and Nancy Jones; sister, Aracely Jones; brother, Javier Jones; paternal grandparents, Randy and Donna Jones; maternal grandmother, Laura Guillen; great-grandmother, Roberta Jones; aunts and uncles: David and Patricia Larez, Carla Balderrama, Joe and Gina Saunders, Clara Nance, Debra Weisel, Brad Bradley, Sarah and William Weldy, Timothy and Julie Roberson, Curtis Jones, Trina Jones, Carlos and Nancy Guillen, Cristina Guillen and Joaquin Zacarias Jr., and Maritha Quinones; and cousins: Shyanne and Brookelynn Weldy, Conner and Chloe Roberson, Austin Carnero, Damian and Adrian Guillen, Aaron and Ricardo Zacarias; along with many more great-uncles, -aunts and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandmother, Tamala Bradley; maternal grandfather, Carlos Guillen Sr.; and great-grandfather, Samuel Jones.
Pallbearers will be Carlos Guillen, Adrian Guillen, Damian Guillen, Joaquin Zacarias, Aaron Zacarias, Ricardo Zacarias, Bobby Romero, Curtis Jones and Timothy Roberson. Honorary pallbearers are the search and rescue team along with anyone who assisted with his rescue.
Samuel was loved by many. With his passing, we are reminded that life should be celebrated. Although we will miss him every day, he will remain forever in our hearts. He brought a community together, filling them with hope and prayer. Sammy's life would seem too short to many, but for those who were touched by him, his beautiful smile will live in their hearts forever. Fly with the angels, baby, we will miss you dearly.
Published in Carlsbad Current-Argus on March 10, 2012

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little Samuel.