Courtesy of Lewis' family

Kyle Green | The Roanoke Times

Tuesday Roanoke Police Chief Joe Gaskins (left) said Aveion Lewis is dead and police have expanded the search for his body.

UPDATED JAN. 20: Stepfather charged, search for body continues

The search for Aveion Lewis took an abrupt turn Tuesday when the 2-year-old boy's stepfather told investigators that the toddler is dead, Roanoke Police Chief Joe Gaskins said at a news conference.

The stepfather, Brandon Lockett, was being held Tuesday for questioning, Gaskins said. The boy's mother, Morgan Lockett, also has been questioned.

Wednesday, Roanoke police charged Brandon Lockett with child neglect, improper disposal of a human body and obstruction of justice. Police did not release information on how Aveion might have died.

On Jan. 14, police were called to the couple's duplex in Jamestown Place in Southeast Roanoke for a reported abduction.

Brandon Lockett told police that three men had knocked him unconscious, ransacked the house and restrained a 4-year-old girl before taking Aveion. Brandon Lockett also said the men left a ransom note demanding $10,000.

The report led to an Amber Alert and police searched for Aveion for days, conducting traffic stops, canvassing his neighborhood and passing out fliers with the boy's picture. Virginia State Police and the FBI also were involved.

But investigators had doubts early on about the validity of the reported abduction, Gaskins said.

"We had some reservations about the stories that were being told, but considering the child, we couldn't afford to assume that an abduction had not occurred, so we certainly had to work it from the angle that there had been an abduction," Gaskins said.

During the investigation, police received varying degrees of cooperation from people they interviewed, Gaskins said. That led them to question the validity of the information they were receiving, especially from Brandon Lockett, Gaskins said.

Press conference: Police believe 2-year-old Aveion Lewis is dead

Aveion M. Lewis

• Age: 2
• Call police with any information: 853-2212 or (800) 822-4453

Previous coverage

• Police seek 3 men in case of missing Roanoke boy

On Tuesday, Lockett told police that Aveion was dead even before the family reported the abduction, according to Roanoke police spokeswoman Aisha Johnson.

Police on Tuesday expanded the search for the toddler's body, and they will continue searching today.

Relatives had organized a search for Saturday using Facebook, but it was unclear Tuesday night whether they would continue with those plans.

Morgan Lockett's brother, Chris Ward, said in an interview Tuesday that his family also had doubts about Brandon Lockett's story.

"I believe that he could have done something to him," Ward said Tuesday before police announced that they believe Aveion is dead.

Ward also said he found it strange that his sister hadn't been reaching out to the family since Aveion's disappearance.

"I believe he has my sister scared to say something."

Ward was too distraught to be interviewed Tuesday after he learned of Aveion's death.

Police are asking anyone with information about the investigation to call them at 853-2212.