Girlfriend of missing boy’s dad questioned after body found in motel

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Theresa Balboa, the girlfriend of Samuel Olson’s father, is being questioned after a body believed to be the missing 6-year-old boy was found in a motel room in Jasper, Texas.

A tip led police to the discovery of the body Tuesday night at Best Western motel about two hours northeast from Houston, just days after the young boy was reported missing.

Video from overnight shows investigators going in and out of the Jasper motel room wearing protective clothing.

Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said the discovery of the body confirmed the worst fears for the young boy.

Finner additionally confirmed that a suspect is being questioned in the case. A source told ABC13 that suspect is Balboa. More details will be made available today, police said.

“I ask the entire Houston community to join HPD in sending prayers for Samuel and his family,” Finner tweeted.

The little boy just turned six over the weekend.

Balboa reported Sam missing on May 27.

On Monday, Balboa said she last saw the child last Thursday morning in the 8800 block of McAvoy Drive in southwest Houston at his paternal grandmother’s house. Balboa was also seen at the search for Samuel in the Webster area.

“I was going to take Sam to school when his mother showed up with the police officer, or who I was under the impression to be a police officer, and they demanded me to release Sam,” explained Balboa on Monday.

Balboa said she handed the young boy to the mom because the parents are in a custody battle. However, Satterwhite said investigators have not been able to verify that.

In fact, Sam may have gone missing weeks ago.

The investigation into Sam’s disappearance took a troubling turn when it was discovered that he hadn’t been seen at Cy-Fair ISD’s Holbrook Elementary School since April 30, several weeks before he was reported missing.