The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has opened an Internal Affairs investigation after the remains of a child first reported missing from St. Louis in July 2024 were recovered this week in a wooded area across the Mississippi River in Illinois.
What prompted the review
Police Chief Robert Tracy announced the review Thursday night, saying the department will scrutinize why two years passed between the initial missing-persons reports and the discovery of the child’s remains. The department said its Juvenile Division previously handled the case and that prosecutors declined to file charges at the time.
- Initial report: The mother first reported her 2-year-old son missing to St. Louis police in July 2024, saying the child was last seen with his father.
- Renewed effort: The case drew new attention after the mother filed another missing-persons report last month with Desloge Police Department in St. Francois County.
- Discovery: Authorities located the child’s remains Wednesday night in Stookey Township, near Belleville, Illinois.
Ongoing investigation and partners
The department described the inquiry as active and said St. Louis homicide detectives are assisting alongside the FBI and Illinois law enforcement agencies. Chief Tracy emphasized accountability and said the family is owed answers.
“Accountability is not optional,” Tracy said at a news conference. “We owe this family and our community an honest review of our actions.”
The child has been identified in police statements as Ronnell Jones Jr. Police said detectives pursued multiple leads and interviewed witnesses during the original investigation, but that conflicting statements and information complicated the case. Prosecutors ultimately declined to file charges following that initial probe.
Community reaction and next steps
The child’s mother, Miranda Randazzo, repeatedly criticized the handling of the case on social media, saying she had trouble reaching and getting clear responses from city investigators in 2024. Her renewed report to Desloge police last month triggered a multi-agency response that led to the discovery.
Officials said the department will review its investigative steps and communication with the family. The Internal Affairs review will examine decisions and timelines from the original missing-persons investigation through the multi-agency response this month. Authorities have not released additional details about any potential suspects, charges, or the precise cause of death as the death investigation continues.
| Key dates | Event |
|---|---|
| July 2024 | Mother first reports 2-year-old missing to St. Louis police |
| June/July 2026 | Mother files new report with Desloge Police; multi-agency probe launched |
| July 2026 | Remains found in Stookey Township; SLMPD opens Internal Affairs review |
This case has broader implications for trust between St. Louis communities and law enforcement. Missing-child investigations, delays in reporting or follow-up, and the coordination between city and regional agencies are under renewed scrutiny. The Internal Affairs review is intended to provide transparency to the family and the public about how the department handled the case and whether any procedural failures occurred.
Authorities asked anyone with information about the case to contact the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department or the FBI. The department has said it will update the public as the investigation progresses.
