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Police Find Remains Of Missing 11-Year-Old

CLARKSBURG, Md. (WJZ) -- The search for a missing 11-year-old is over. His body was discovered Tuesday morning, not far from the home he shared with his mother.

Andrea Fujii has more on the discovery and the investigation into the boy's murder.

William McQuain's young friends waited and worried. Now they have the heartbreaking answer they hoped they wouldn't get.

The body of 11-year-old McQuain was found in a wooded area of Clarksburg near I-270, just a few miles from his home. His classmates heard the heartbreaking news from their principal Tuesday morning.

"Miss Davidson came on the announcer and said they found a body and it matches William McQuain and everyone was crying and it was just a tough day," said classmate Roman Robertson.

McQuain had been missing for two weeks. Police found his mother Jane beaten and stabbed to death in their Germantown apartment last week. Her estranged husband, Curtis Lopez, was arrested in North Carolina with her car and her credit card; he's now been charged with murder. From a nearby storage facility, police found surveillance video of Lopez with his stepson, who apparently was unaware his life was in imminent danger.

"He appeared to be running around, as you would expect a boy that age to do," said Chief Thomas Manger, Montgomery County Police.

Police won't say exactly what led them to his body, only that it was investigative information that led them to the woods in Clarksburg. Near the crime scene, a memorial to William McQuain grows as parents bring their children to pay respects to their young friend.

"I just wanted to cry. I was getting very emotional; that was like my best friend," said Jamie White.

"I would rather remember him when we played football than this," Jerell White said.

It's a senseless murder that has those who loved William McQuain and his mother praying for justice.

"William was the greatest, most beautiful, wonderful, cheerful child in the entire world and there's no reason that this should have ever happened to him," said his former coach, Tamera Seonarian.

Curtis Lopez has waived extradition to Maryland. He will be charged with William McQuain's murder once he is back in the state.

At this point, police have not said how William McQuain died, but say his body was covered with brush when they found him.

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