A Dallas teenager who allegedly kidnapped a four-year-old boy from his bed before stabbing him to death has been arrested and charged.
Cash Gernon, four, was abducted and stabbed to death with what police described as an "edged weapon".
He and his twin brother were left in the care of their stepmother, Monica Sherrod by their father - unbeknownst to his biological mother, Dallas police said in a statement on Monday.
The suspected murderer, 18-year-old Darriynn Brown, was arrested and charged with kidnapping and theft.
Brown was arrested hours after Gernon's body was discovered by a jogger at around 7am on Saturday (local time).
CCTV footage from inside their home showed a man taking Gernon from his crib at around 5am. His twin brother, who was also in the same room, was not harmed.
Dallas Police Assistant Chief Albert Martinez described the circumstance as "unusual".
"Unfortunately a small child was lost today in our city through a violent act and we will pursue justice to find whoever did this and bring some sort of closure, not only to family, but to community," he told NBC News.
"We are shocked, we are very angry about what has happened to this small child."
Kamron Moori, who lived with Gernon, told NBC News he's appalled by what happened.
Moori's mother previously dated Gernon's father, and the man moved out of the house several months ago, leaving the twins in their care.
"He was the sweetest boy ever," Moori told NBC News.
"Like why? He was four. Who does this to a four-year-old kid? For what? For what reason? Because you want to be evil?"
Moori says they've got cameras around the house because his family are "very protective" and that their neighbourhood often had problems with crimes.
"We got cameras all over the place in my house," Moori said.
"It shows him coming in, took him while he was asleep. While he was asleep. Carried him out of my house while he was asleep."
Gernon's twin brother has been returned to his biological mother.
