A body found off a central Massachusetts highway has been positively identified as that of Jeremiah Oliver , a 5-year-old boy who was missing for months before police were alerted . Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. 's announcement on Saturday was n't surprising : One day before , Early had said the body wrapped in a blanket and stuffed inside a bag matched the height and weight of Jeremiah . Still , how he got there and even how he died is still unknown . The district attorney did not detail a cause of death Saturday , explaining the child 's autopsy is not yet complete . The case raised questions about the state 's role as it relates to Jeremiah 's care , with Massachusetts Department of Children and Families Commissioner Olga Roche admitting that there had been `` a serious failure . '' `` We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Jeremiah Oliver '' Roche said Saturday . `` DCF continues to focus on caring for Jeremiah 's siblings to ensure they are receiving the support they need during this very difficult time . '' In March , Jeremiah 's mother , 28-year-old Elsa Oliver , and her boyfriend , 22-year-old Alberto Sierra , were indicted by a grand jury on charges related to Jeremiah 's disappearance as well as on charges of child abuse . Calls to the attorneys for both were not immediately returned Friday . The district attorney 's office did not speculate Saturday on whether they might face additional charges now that Jeremiah has been confirmed dead . The last documentation of state authorities ' interaction with Jeremiah was in May 2013 , according to Department of Children and Families spokesman Alec Loftus . In June , Loftus said , the social worker was told that Jeremiah had moved to Florida to live with his grandmother but did not follow up or verify that . The last visit to the home was in November , when the social worker left behind a business card indicating it would be the Department of Children and Families ' final visit , according to Loftus . On December 2 , Jeremiah 's 8-year-old sister told counselors at her elementary school that her mother 's boyfriend , Sierra , had abused her , according to a police affidavit . After those statements , the girl and another brother were taken into protective custody , according to the affidavit . It was in December that authorities realized that the boy was missing . Roche fired the social worker and supervisor assigned to his case because they did not conduct the required in-person , monthly checks on the family , according to a statement released that month .
The body of Jeremiah Oliver , 5 , was in a blanket inside a duffel bag , tossed by a highway . No cause of death has been given yet ; the autopsy on the child is not complete . A few days later, another baby died from complications related to an opioid overdose. The boy 's mom , boyfriend were indicted in March in his disappearance .