FOX ISLAND, Wash. –- A missing 8-year-old whose body was found on the shores of Fox Island Thursday afternoon died of accidental drowning. His mother is still missing.
The Pierce County Medical Examiner on Friday positively identified the body as that of Azriel Carver. A full toxicology test will be conducted, which is normal procedure on all autopsies, says the medical examiner.
Deputies resumed their search Friday for the boy's mother, Shantina "Kat" Smiley, 29, of Silverdale. Coast Guard helicopter and detectives in boats took advantage of the low tide to search for her along the shoreline and in the water in the area where Azriel's body was found.
"We have an interest in wanting to go as fast as we can so we can get to as many places as we can, but it's also about finding that sweet spot so we can really get a good look at all the things we need to look at," said Lt. Paul Counts, Thurston County Sheriff's Office.
Police have been looking for the mother and son since they disappeared last Saturday. They were last seen alive Saturday night in Olympia. Smiley's minivan was found partially submerged in Budd Inlet on Sunday.
"We are grieving the loss of Azriel, and praying for Shantina. We are all severely hurting. We are getting the family together so we can grieve together, and so we can have some sort of peace right now," said Robb Simmons, Shantina's fiance.
"You really don't know what you have in your life until they're gone," said Jed Carver, Azriel's father, "It's a sad turn of events."
Complaints against mother
Smiley has been the focus of investigations in the past. Since 2005, the Washington state Department of Social and Health Services has received ten complaints about her parenting. Three of those were serious enough to be investigated.
- June 2005: allegations of abuse were ruled inconclusive when Azriel suffered bruises and a broken arm. Smiley's ex-boyfriend was blamed and arrested, but investigators never determined who hurt Azriel.
- March 2007: a claim that Smiley abused Azriel was ruled "unfounded."
- August 2007: the state said Smiley was negligent when she passed out after drinking alcohol while caring for Azriel.
Despite the investigations, social workers never felt it was necessary to remove Azriel from his mother.
"You can't determine, just based on what you're hearing on the surface, to say that a child should be removed from their parents. There are a lot of factors, a lot of issues and family dynamics. And the thing is we always look for the safety of the child," said Sherry Hill, DSHS Children's Administration
In 2005 and 2007, Smiley voluntarily gave up custody of Azriel to relatives while she received counseling.
KING'5s Drew Mikkelsen and Chris Daniels contributed to this report.
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