Decatur Boy Murdered in Indiana

A Decatur family is struggling to deal with the tragic death of a 10-year-old boy. Police say Evan Parker was stabbed to death by Jason Patrick, 19, of South Bend, Indiana.

Evan Parker and his younger sister were spending the summer with their mother who recently left the Decatur area to move to Illinois. On the way, they stopped in South Bend, Indiana to spend a few weeks with a family friend.

On Sunday night, Evan's mother found his abandonned skateboard in the neighborhood and called police. Her call triggered a massive search for the boy. Police heard his screams and tracked him to the basement of a vacant home in the neighbohood. He had been stabbed in the chest, and police say he suffered several other "horrendous" injuries.

Parker died at a South Bend hospital during a complicated surgery.

Police say Jason Patrick used to live in the house where Parker was found. Witnesses say Patrick tried to help in the search for the missing boy and was even seen talking to him earlier in the evening.

Evan Parker's aunt says the entire family is devastated by the murder. They want Jason Patrick to be given the maiximum penatly for this crime.

Evan lived with his father and 8-year-old sister in Decatur. His body is being returned to Alabama for funeral services later this week.