What to Know
- A toddler was found dead in a roller suitcase on the PATH train tracks in Jersey City nearly two weeks ago; she was fully clothed
- While a clear cause of death couldn't initially be determined, sources say the girl appeared to have been carefully placed in the suitcase
- Her father, Travis Plummer, was arrested in Puerto Rico and is awaiting extradition back to New Jersey, authorities say
The father of the missing 2-year-old Virginia girl found dead in a suitcase near the PATH tracks in Jersey City almost two weeks ago has been arrested in Puerto Rico, authorities say.
It's still not clear how the toddler, identified as Te'Myah Plummer, died but the Hudson County prosecutor's office said Monday they believe she died outside of New Jersey.
The child's father, 37-year-old Travis Lamont Plummer, was located in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on April 19, according to the prosecutor's office. He's been arrested and is awaiting extradition proceedings back to New Jersey, where he's facing a charge of desecrating human remains.
Te'Myah Plummer had not been seen by family in Richmond since last August, NBC affiliate WWBT reported last month, and on March 21, Richmond police sent a news release about the missing child, saying, "We would like to hear from whomever may be caring for Te'Myah Plummer, probably a family member. We need to confirm she is safe."
Police believed at the time "they may have relocated to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County, North Carolina area or perhaps Jersey City, New Jersey."
Authorities believe the toddler had been dead for several days before her body was found wrapped in a blanket in a suitcase on the tracks underneath the Tonnelle Avenue overpass near Newark Avenue April 11. There were no visible signs of trauma on the girl, who was carefully placed, fully clothed, in the case.
The disturbing discovery on the Newark-bound side of the Jersey City-Journal Square station "rattled" even the most veteran homicide detectives, sources said.
Local
There were two suitcases where the baby was found -- one dark, one pink. She was found in the pink one.
