On May 15, Aiden Scott Bevins was found buried in his father’s backyard. The father was arrested on suspicion of murder and illegal disposal of remains.
ABERDEEN, Wash. — The Aberdeen Police Department arrested a 36-year-old man in connection with the death of his 4-year-old son, Aiden Bevins, early Thursday. In May, Aiden Bevins’ body was found buried in a relative’s backyard.
The man was jailed on suspicion of second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, unlawful disposal of human remains and making false or misleading statements to a public servant.
Police confirmed the man was Aiden’s biological father. KING 5 is not naming him because he has not been formally charged.
Aberdeen police said they responded to a missing child complaint on May 12 involving the suspect’s 6-year-old daughter. Police determined the child was with her mother and the matter was a custody matter rather than a criminal matter.
Relatives told KING 5 they requested a welfare check after not seeing Aiden for a long time. Aberdeen police said they inquired about Aiden’s whereabouts and his father initially said the child was living with a relative out of state. Detectives contacted the relative, who said the child was never in their care.
On May 15, Aberdeen police and investigators with the Washington State Patrol Crime Scene Response Team discovered the child’s body buried on property owned by his grandmother, where relatives said she and Aiden’s father had lived.
The exact circumstances of Aiden’s death are still under investigation and have not yet been determined.
A couple who say they adopted Aiden told KING 5 they expressed concerns about Aiden being reunited with his biological parents, but no action was taken. Gary and Magali Lopez said they cared for Aiden from age 1 to 3.
“The things we’ve been afraid of since he left…our fears,” Gary said.
When Aiden visited his birth parents, the couple said he would be dirty when he came back. They said they were worried he wasn’t eating enough and was being put in dangerous situations.
The couple said they contacted Child Protective Services multiple times, but Aiden was still placed back with his biological parents.
Magali said they continually raised concerns and pointed out red flags to appropriate agencies, including his social worker and their foster care agency. When he was returned to his biological parents, they contacted the Department of Children, Youth and Families at least three times, she said. They also messaged and called his biological parents.
The man is being held at the Aberdeen City Jail before being transferred to the Grays Harbor County Jail.
“I can’t explain to you how angry I am,” Magali Lopez told KING 5 on Thursday. “Everyone failed him.”
This is a development story. Please check back for updates.
