Missing Idaho girl found dead in trash bag in car outside house; grandmother arrested

EMMETT, Idaho (TCD) --

A dead girl was found in a trash bag in a vehicle parked outside a residence on Airport Road, the Gem County Sheriff’s Office announced on Friday, April 16, and a suspect was arrested in Ada County.

The sheriff’s office believes the girl is Taryn Summers, 8, who was last seen in Emmett, Idaho on April 12, 2021.

KTVB-TV reports the body was found in a trash bag in a car parked outside her own house. The cause of death was not released.

Emmett resident Connie Ann Smith, 54, is charged with felony failure to notify of a death, and destruction of evidence. Smith is reportedly the girl’s grandmother.

Smith told the Gem County Sheriff's Office that Taryn, who lived with her, had run away.

Smith told investigators Taryn had defecated on the carpet, and Smith had cut a section of carpet out of the girl's bedroom and burned it.

Wednesday, forensics investigation crews found a small spot of blood on Taryn's bedroom wall. Investigators then found Taryn’s body in a black plastic trash bag in a Lexus parked in front of the house, KTVB reports. She reportedly had vomit in her hair and on her shirt.

The vehicle is registered to Smith’s son, KTVB reports, but Smith had been seen driving the vehicle to a school on the day Taryn was reported missing.

The Gem County Sheriff’s Office said during the search for Taryn that she may have been with two older children, who were reported as runaways in 2020.

Tristan Sexton, 17, was last seen in Emmett on September 10, 2020. Taylor Summers, 14, was last seen in Emmett on October 19, 2020. Both teens were reported as runaways, the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff’s office said law enforcement was in contact with Taylor Summers, “and does not believe her to be in danger at this time.” Family was in contact with Tristan Sexton and said he was not in danger.

KTVB reports Smith was originally booked into the Ada County Jail on a charge of first-degree murder, but is not currently facing a murder charge. Smith was later transferred to the Gem County Jail on the failure to notify of a death and destruction of evidence charges. She was held on $800,000 bond.

Prosecutors said additional charges were expected. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for May 3.

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