LATEST: Family “Devastated” Over Death Of 5-Year-Old Boy, Mobile Police Arrest Daycare Worker

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LATEST: Family “Devastated” Over Death Of 5-Year-Old Boy, Mobile Police Arrest Daycare Worker

Mobile Police have announced the identity of a 5-year-old found dead on Monday and revealed new details on the daycare worker arrested in connection to the boy’s death.

Chief Lawrence Battiste says the body of 5-year-old Kamden Johnson was discovered Monday afternoon on Demetropolis Road. Battiste tells News 5 that preliminary autopsy reports shows no physical trauma to Kamden.

5-year-old Kamden Johnson, found dead in Mobile on Monday.

The family of Kamden Johnson released a statement to News 5 on Tuesday evening through their attorney, expressing how “simply devastated” they are over losing him.

“As you can imagine, our family is simply devastated. There are really no words that can describe or express the loss that we have suffered. In this difficult time, we want to thank everyone for the outpouring of love that you have shown us and ask that you keep us firmly in your prayers, as you allow us our time to grieve in private.” — Gregory L. S. Harris, II, Attorney for the family of Kamden Johnson

Valerie Rena Patterson, 46, was arrested Monday night and charged with abuse of a corpse. Patterson worked at Community Nursery and Preschool on Hillcrest Road, the same preschool reportedly attended by Kamden Johnson.

Chief Battiste says Patterson was only “somewhat” cooperative when she was being interviewed by investigators and taken into custody.

“She is the primary suspect,” said Chief Battiste, speaking of Patterson.

Patterson’s lengthy arrest record, which goes back to 1991, includes 12 prior arrests. There are 12 charges of theft of property, as well as fleeing as a fugitive from the state of Florida, failure to appear in court, and giving a false name or address.

Valarie Rena Patterson, 46, Charged with Abusing a Corpse.

Patterson had many responsibilities at Community Preschool and Nursery on Hillcrest Road, where Johnson attended daycare before being found dead. Among those responsibilities was driving around children, and her arrest record shows arrests for negligent driving with kids in the car.

Patterson was arrested on May 23, 1999 and charged with no drivers license, failure to properly restrain a child, reckless driving, and filing a false police report.

Jessica Taloney showed up to Community Nursery and Preschool moments after the press conference ended, where she witnessed multiple parents picking up their children. At least one of the parents said they were un-enrolling their child from the daycare.

As we reported earlier, Mobile Police were seen searching Patterson’s home on Gulf Terra Drive. She has 12 prior arrests in Mobile County, along with 13 charges of theft of property, News 5 has learned.