FLORIDA CITY, Fla. – Police are investigating after a toddler that went missing Saturday was found dead near a home in Florida City.
Now the family of Mariah Johnson is speaking out.
"You have a two year old child; you are supposed to watch them. It tore me apart," said Eddie Dixon, the child's grandfather.
Detectives said at 12:20 p.m. Saturday, officers with the Florida City Police Department responded to reports of a missing child at a home at 905 West Palm Drive.
A short time later, police said Mariah was found unresponsive within a close distance of the home. Her body was found in a ditch. covered with dirt and plywood, outside an abandoned hotel off West Palm Drive, near U.S. 1.
Family and friends say the mother's boyfriend, Willie Wilson was watching the nearly two year old when she disappeared.
"What is a child doing walking way over here with the boyfriend, then he leave...I don't understand that," said Dixon.
The toddler was taken to Homestead Hospital where police said she was pronounced dead.
At this time, police say the cause of death is unknown.
Watch Local 10 News and refresh Local10.com for updates on this story.