Police Confirm Body Of Girl Found In Bin Is Madyson Middleton

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (CBS/AP) — Police confirmed Tuesday the body of a girl found in a trash bin Monday night is that of missing 8-year-old girl Madyson Middleton.

Just before 8 p.m. Monday, a Santa Cruz police detective once again searched the area where Madyson was last seen. This included looking in a recycling bin on the first floor parking garage of the complex. Her body was found inside the bin, and was concealed in a bin in a way that was not obvious, according to a Santa Cruz Police Department spokesperson.

Police say she was lured to the apartment willingly by the 15-year-old male suspect, who also lives at the complex, and who she reportedly knew. She was allegedly killed inside of an apartment and then taken down to the bin. The suspect was arrested around the same time the body was found and is being questioned on suspicion of homicide, Vogel said.

Madyson vanished Sunday afternoon at Tannery Arts Center, where she lives with her mother. She was last seen riding her new, white scooter in the courtyard, but at about 5 p.m. her mother realized she was gone.

Beyond the 8-acre property, searchers from throughout the state looked in boats, helicopters, on foot and bike, with dogs and cameras.

Madyson lived with her mother at the Tannery Arts Center, a public-private nonprofit project that includes 100 affordable loft apartments for artists and their families, a café, and dance and art studios.

The property, a former leather tannery, is managed by The John Stewart Company. John Stewart, the company's chairman, said they turned the surveillance footage over to authorities Sunday night.

Site manager Warren Reed said the property is located in a very busy area, with a number of businesses and a major construction project nearby.