A woman in Hall County, Georgia, has been arrested after authorities discovered the remains of a 4-year-old girl inside the trunk of her vehicle, according to a warrant released by law enforcement. The suspect, identified as Jessica Motes, was taken into custody and charged with felony concealing the death of another person.
Investigators have not yet clarified Motes’ relationship to the child or how the girl died. According to the warrant, Motes was seen by her father on Sunday, driving into a shopping center parking lot in Oakwood. The document alleges that she then made a disturbing confession to him, saying she “hurt (redacted name)” and “I think she is dead.”
Authorities said Motes’ father drove her away from the parking lot after hearing her statement. During an encounter with law enforcement shortly afterward, officers discovered the remains of the 4-year-old girl in the trunk of Motes’ vehicle.
The Hall County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Motes is currently facing one count of felony concealing a death. Additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues. So far, investigators have not released the identity of the child. It also remains unclear where or when the girl’s death occurred.
Records show that the arrest is connected to an active death investigation that began Sunday in Hall County. The case involves multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Oakwood Police Department and the Hall County Sheriff’s Office.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has joined the case to assist with forensic analysis and investigative support. Authorities have not shared further details about the cause of death or the timeline leading up to the discovery.
“This is a deeply tragic situation, and our investigators are working diligently to determine exactly what happened,” a law enforcement official familiar with the case said on Monday.
The parking lot where Motes was first spotted has not been publicly identified, but police confirmed that it was located within the Oakwood area, just south of Gainesville.
As of Thursday, 11Alive reported that the GBI had not yet provided additional updates or clarified whether anyone else might be connected to the case.
Motes remains in custody as authorities continue to gather evidence and await autopsy results from the GBI Crime Lab. The investigation is ongoing, and officials say more information will be released once next of kin notifications and forensic testing are complete.