The story made national headlines.
Ashley Makuhan, a Cleveland mother of four, was serving an 18-month drug sentence in prison when she learned that her youngest son was dead.
“I can only hope that he didn’t suffer,” she told Channel 3 News in an exclusive interview Tuesday.
Late last year, the skeleton of a 4-year old boy was discovered by a man clearing out brush behind a home on Longmead Avenue on Cleveland’s west side.
There was no one matching the victim’s description in the missing children database.
Police released a sketch, which Makuhan recognized on TV last month as her son, and investigators matched DNA. The boy was then positively identified as Eliazar Ruiz.
Makuhan said more than a year and a half had gone by since she last heard from the childhood friend who was supposed to be watching him. She said she trusted this person and felt she was being given space to get her life together.
Yet she refused to share the friend’s name Tuesday as to not interfere with the investigation. Police have not named suspects or made arrests.
Makuhan does not think her friend is capable of murder but said “accidents happen," believing she likely panicked. She also believes she is still alive.
“If you ever loved or cared about me or my son you wouldn’t have did him like that,” Makuhan said, “And if anybody comes in contact with her, please don’t be shy to contact detectives because I want justice for my son.”
On February 20th, relatives plan to hold a memorial for Ruiz on Longmead Avenue on what would have been his 5th birthday.
Makuhan is scheduled to be released from the Northeast Reintegration Center in Cleveland March 31st but hopes for possible early release so she can be there.