SAM DEAN The Roanoke Times

A searcher helps sift through piles of trash Tuesday during a search of the Smith Gap Regional Landfill for the body of Aveion Lewis.

JEANNA DUERSCHERL The Roanoke Times

Roanoke Police Chief Joe Gaskins reports the discovery of the body of a small child at the Smith Gap landfill.

Amid acres of the Roanoke Valley's forgotten waste, a team of people looking for toddler Aveion Lewis on Wednesday found the body of a small child.

Police Chief Joe Gaskins could not say with certainty that the body found in a Western Roanoke County landfill was that of Aveion's. The medical examiner will identify the remains and a cause of death.

Roanoke Commonwealth's Attorney Donald Caldwell said Wednesday evening that he had previously planned to present a murder charge against the child's stepfather, Brandon Lockett, to the grand jury on Monday.

Now that police have discovered a child's body, that may change, Caldwell said.

"If it appears there is additional evidence that can be gathered, we may withhold placing additional charges" until the grand jury meets again in March, he said.

"It's nothing short of a miracle that they actually found that child's body," Caldwell said.

Lockett was charged last week with improper disposal of a human body, felony child neglect and obstruction of justice.

Aveion's mother, Morgan Lockett, has not been charged.

The Locketts reported to police two weeks ago that the toddler had been abducted. Brandon Lockett later told police that the child had died.

Police have not released any information about how they believe Aveion might have died.

Since his disappearance, more than 200 people searched the Roanoke River, its banks, and the areas surrounding the family's home.

Police asked the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority early on in the investigation to identify and separate trash that may have come from near Jamestown Place, Gaskins said.

They began sorting through the compacted garbage at Smith Gap Regional Landfill on Saturday, but stopped for two days because of heavy rain.

The body was found Wednesday about 12:30 p.m., Gaskins said.

"This is a measure of closure for all of us; to be able to see that this young person is found, and hopefully that the body is buried appropriately," he said.

Gaskins would not say if information from Brandon Lockett led police to search the trash but said that Lockett has been uncooperative.

"Brandon has offered a tremendous number of different stories," Gaskins said.

Caldwell praised police and federal agents for their diligent work in the case.

"Roanoke police and federal authorities that have been investigating have done an excellent job," he said.

Aveion's aunt, Cara Ward, also expressed her gratitude for the police department's dedication in finding Aveion's body.

She said that the discovery brings some relief.

"I'm really glad that they found the body," she said. "But I know that Aveion's spiritual body is at home with the Lord."

She is appalled that someone apparently put the child's body in the trash.

"I can't believe someone would do something so horrific, to put him in the trash," she said. "Who in their right mind would put that sweet, cute, beautiful child in the trash?"

Aveion would have turned 3 on Tuesday.

Ward said what she will remember most about Aveion, who was born prematurely, is how hard he fought to live.

"He was a fighter. He fought for his life to even come into this world, and I'm sure he died fighting," she said.

The family is planning a memorial service for Sunday.

Police are asking anyone with information about Aveion's death to call them at 853-2212.