Roanoke police said they believe a 2-year-old taken from his home last week is now dead.
Roanoke police chief Joe Gaskins said Tuesday that authorities shifted their search after Aveion M. Lewis' stepfather told police the toddler had died, the Roanoke Times reported.
No one has been charged, but the stepfather, Brandon Lockett, is in custody.
Police did not release any information about the circumstances of Aveion's death. The child was last seen wearing yellow SpongeBob Squarepants footie pajamas.
Last week, police said three men took the boy Thursday after they knocked his stepfather unconscious. They left a note asking for money.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
