A 19-year-old woman strangled a 5-year-old cousin who had been in her parents' care, then discarded his body along a road before calling in a false report that two masked intruders took the boy from their Albany-area home, authorities said Friday.
Tiffany VanAlstyne's bogus 911 call Thursday afternoon set off a search for Kenneth White that lasted into the night, authorities said. A search dog picked up a scent around 9 p.m., and Kenneth's body was found in a culvert, covered with snow, Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said. VanAlstyne strangled the boy and tossed his body over a guard rail along a rural two-lane road in the town of Berne before making the 911 call just after 1 p.m. Thursday, Apple said.
VanAlstyne was charged Friday with second-degree murder. He declined to comment on a motive and said authorities believe VanAlstyne acted alone. - AP