Body Found In Search For William McQuain

Further searches have been suspended

Police believe they have found the body of William McQuain, the 11-year-old Germantown boy that had been missing since Sept. 30. With the help of a search dog, Montgomery County Police officers discovered the remains of a young, African-American boy in a wooded area of the county near Route 355 and Clarksburg Road shortly after 9 a.m. today, according to Police Chief Thomas Manger.

"We believe the remains are William McQuain. We believe that William has been at this location since October 1st," says Manger, noting that additional forensic testing on the body is necessary. Police have suspended further searches.

William's mother, Jane McQuain, was found dead at her Germantown home last week. Her estranged husband, Curtis Lopez, was charged with first-degree murder in connection with her death after being arrested in North Carolina last week. He waived extradition and is due back in Maryland to face charges.

Police and volunteers have been searching for the boy in various trails and parks in the northern part of Montgomery County since Sunday. 

Police say surveillance video from a storage facility in the northern part of the county shows Lopez entering the facility Oct. 1 with William. That same footage shows Lopez leaving the facility alone later. The clothing on the body appears similar to what William was wearing on October 1st.

If the remains are positively identified, police say Lopez will face additional charges in the murder of William McQuain.