Update: Murdered Boy Was Bound With Duct Tape (Another CPS Failure)

Editor's Note: Someone tried to protect this child by calling CPS - his older sister and maybe even the mom herself. They ignored it and now this has happened. At what point do we say enough is enough with that corrupt system? How many more children have to die before they're held accountable for their actions and inactions?

Update: Murdered Boy Was Bound With Duct Tape
Evidence indicates there may have been plans to dismember and dispose of the body
Posted: 12:03 PM Jul 16, 2009
Last Updated: 3:01 PM Jul 16, 2009

Angela Manns has been denied bond, charged with the first degree murder of her son, 12-year-old Michael Belitz. She was arraigned Thursday afternoon.

Channel 6 News has learned his older sister and possibly Manns herself, made calls to child protective services concerning Belitz's welfare. In court, the public defender said Manns tried to call Child Protective Services, saying "something bad would happen to her or her child if she doesn't receive some help."

Manns was arrested for Belitz's death Sunday, the same day police discovered his body inside their home near 28th and Ida.

Neighbors had alerted police something was wrong due to an odor coming out of the house and an excessive number of flies on one window.

While officers were on the scene, Police they saw Manns drive by. They followed her and arrested her some distance away from the home.

The Douglas County Attorney says the body was found in the bath tub. The boy's wrists and ankles were bound with duct tape.

Don Kleine says the boy had been dead at least two weeks. "It appeared that there were attempts to mask or hide the odor. There was quite a bit of kitty litter that was placed over the body and then bags covering the body," Kleine said.

"There were also bags, garbage bags that were placed in five gallon buckets in that area of the bathroom and there were tools there that appear to be those that might be used at some point in time to dispose of the remains."

Those tools, Kleine said, also included a hatchet, a knife and goggles on the bathroom counter.

At this point, Kleine says, he has no reason to believe anyone else was involved in Belitz's death.

Those close to Belitz tell investigators he and his mother had argued in mid-June. He allegedly wanted to got to a College World Series game, but his mother refused to let him. Kleine says this is the most recent tiff his office knows about between the two, but whether it sparked the violence is unclear.

Outside of the courtroom today, Michael's father Lenny Belitz says his son wanted to come live with him. He thought that may have caused Manns to snap. He told Channel 6 News she had a temper and an alcohol problem.

Due to the state of decomposition, the cause of death has still not been determined.