Sheriff Confirms Body Found in Montana is Missing Boy Aiden Salcido

Zachary Stieber
By Zachary Stieber
August 2, 2019US News
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Sheriff Confirms Body Found in Montana is Missing Boy Aiden Salcido
Two-year-old Aiden Salcido, who authorities were searching for in Montana. (FBI via AP)

The body found on July 28 in a remote section of Montana has been confirmed to be missing 2-year-old Oregon boy Aiden Salcido.

Aiden’s parents were found dead on July 25 in Kalispell, Montana after police chased them down due to arrest warrants. His mother, Hannah Janiak, was found with a gunshot wound to her head and his father, Daniel Salcido, was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Aiden was nowhere to be found.

The body that was believed to be Aiden’s, later confirmed, was found on July 28 at an abandoned campsite near West Fisher Creek, where Aiden’s parents had been staying at one point, according to the Medford Police Department. His parents had been seen on surveillance video from a nearby Walmart buying camping equipment in early July.

Officials confirmed on Aug. 1 that the body was Aiden, citing an autopsy. The boy died from a gunshot wound to the head, reported the Flathead Beacon.

Salcido and Janiak, who were not married, were reported missing on July 11 after Janiak missed the start of her jail sentence for a burglary conviction. Felony warrants for Salcido were issued four days later related to the same burglary. Warrants had already been issued for Janiak in June.

Court records obtained by The Oregonian indicated the couple stole a handgun, a rifle, and more than $10,000 in metals and coins.

Medford police said the couple and Aiden were homeless and living at a campsite in Medford.

Missing Child Oregon
Hannah Janiak (L) and Daniel Salcido, parents of Aiden Salcido. The parents were found dead in Kalispell, Mont. on July 24, 2019. (Medford Police Department/FBI via AP)

Previous Updates

In an update in late July after Aiden’s body was found, the Medford Police Department said that the body was believed to be of the boy and that several witnesses saw the family at the campsite days earlier.

“The Medford Police Department would like to express condolences to our local families of those involved and we appreciate the cooperation that we received. The Medford Police Department would also like to express gratitude to our local media for quickly disseminating this story in an effort to locate Aiden,” the department stated.

The department had asked members of the public to call in tips regarding the whereabouts of Aiden, noting that Salcido and Janiak were reported missing.

“Investigators began looking through Hannah’s financial records and found the last activity was on June 3rd and 4th, 2019, when two purchases were made at the Walmart on Center Drive, Medford. The purchases were caught on surveillance video, which showed Daniel, Hannah, and Aiden together. The couple purchased camping equipment, among other items. Investigators were not able to locate any further financial activity,” the department said.

“Family was concerned for Hannah, Daniel, and Aiden’s welfare as they have made no contact with any friends or family. Hannah was described as a good mother. Family also said the trio were homeless and would camp along the greenway in Medford. Family said that Hannah suffers from mental health issues.”

The department found out on July 25 that police in Montana stopped a green 1996 GMC vehicle with an Oregon license plate and that a description of the driver and passenger matched that of Janiak and Salcido.

“They contacted the male driver and female passenger, who were believed to be giving false information about their identity. During the stop, the vehicle fled and led officers on a pursuit. Officers spiked the vehicle tires and the vehicle came to a stop. When the officers approached, they found both the male and female were deceased. The female was believed to have been shot in the head, and the male had an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head,” police said.

“The deceased couple were determined to be Daniel Salcido and Hannah Janiak. Aiden was not located and there was no evidence of a child being in the vehicle. The vehicle was determined to have been sold to an unknown person in late June/early July, in Central Point, Oregon.”

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