DEVELOPING STORY:  The Jasper County Coroner tells KSPR the autopsy on 8 month old Eddie Salazar Junior is complete, but at this time findings will not be released.  There are still a few toxicology reports to be done before the prelinary results will be released.  We are told that will be sometime late this week.

This case has also proved to be a financial and emotional strain for those involved.

For more than 24 hours rescue crews combed the streets of Carthage and the banks of the Spring River.

Hundreds of officers were involved in the search for 8-month-old Eddie Salazar Junior.

Carthage Police Chief Greg Dagnan says the effort stretched resources to the max.

"We devoted at least 400 overtime hours to this event," said Chief Dagnan.
    
He says that's roughly 25 dollars per hour per person, just for his department alone.

But with dozens of agencies involved, it was a disheartening outcome for everyone.

"It was frustrating when we began to realize that this is not at all what happened, and we had been deceived into giving the public false information," said Dagnan.

Initially 29-year-old Eddie Salazar Senior told police two masked men broke into his home, knocked him unconcious, and took the infant.

But later Salazar told police he lied after naming an alleged suspect who proved innocent.

From the very start, many in the community pointed the finger at Salazar, but police said they had to treat him as a victim until proven otherwise.

"When you see some inconsistencies and some strange things, you really don't know if that's part of the traumatic event.  You really don't know if that's because you're not being told the whole truth," said Dagnan.

Finally, after more than 48 hours crews found the body of the 8-month-old Saturday in the Spring River, just a few miles from Carthage.

His father is now the prime suspect in his death.

Chief Dagnan says while the investigation and the search were costly, it can at least move forward from this point.

"There are agencies out there that end up in a situation like this, and they are looking for days and weeks for a missing child.  So certainly, very easily, if we had done some things a little differently it could have went on and on," said Dagnan.

He went on to tell us that at this poing he's focusing attention on wrapping up loose ends, and followin gall leads to make sure there is nothing left to do before sending the case to the prosecutor.

More charges are pending for Salazar based on the outcome of his son's autopsy.

We're also told Ulmer Funeral Home will be handling services for the infant, but those are still being finalized at this time.

Story ideas or comments?  Email me at wcarter@kspr.com