1972 cold case homicide victim identified; mother, her boyfriend were allegedly involved in his death

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (TCN) -- Investigators recently identified a young cold case homicide victim who was found over 50 years ago, and officials believe his mother had something to do with his death.

According to the Fairfax County Police Department, on June 13, 1972, the body of a 4-year-old boy was discovered in Massey Creek in Lorton. An autopsy determined he died of blunt force trauma, and his death was ruled a homicide.

Despite investigators' efforts, the victim's identity remained unknown, and a local church gave him the name "Charles Lee Charlet." He was buried at Coleman Cemetery in Alexandria.

Decades later, in 2003, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children created a computer-generated sketch, leading to several tips but no viable leads. The following year, Mitochondrial DNA was extracted from hair evidence and entered into the national database, but authorities didn't find any matches.

In an Aug. 4 news release from police, officials said they used advanced DNA testing and forensic-grade genome sequencing provided by Astrea Forensics to help identify the young boy. As a result, investigators traced the victim's family to Philadelphia, where they spoke with a relative who led them to the 4-year-old's mother, Vera Bryant. Bryant reportedly died in 1980. Authorities exhumed her body and sent her DNA to Astrea Forensics and confirmed a match.

The child was identified as Carl Bryant, who was born on May 26, 1968.

According to police, investigators suspect Vera Bryant and her boyfriend, James Hedgepeth, who are now both deceased, were involved in the child's death. Authorities also believe the victim's baby brother, James Bryant, was killed around the same time somewhere between Philadelphia and Middlesex County, Virginia. The whereabouts of the infant are unknown, but he is presumed dead.

Police noted that Hedgepeth had previously been convicted of murder.

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