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Couple accused of killing 4-year-old boy found buried in a trash bag behind Cleveland home booked into county jail

Joanne Vega and Romaine Tolbert.jpg
Posted at 1:09 PM, Apr 10, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-11 09:15:46-04

CLEVELAND — A couple who was arrested in Michigan last month and was charged for the death of a 4-year-old boy found buried in a trash bag in the backyard of a Cleveland home were booked into the Cuyahoga County Jail Tuesday.

Joanne Vega, 31, and her husband Romaine Tolbert were arrested and taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service on March 29 in Adrian, Michigan.

Both Vega and Tolbert are scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday, April 11 at 8:30 a.m. at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center.

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The couple was indicted on Jan. 14 and charged with murder, permitting child abuse, felonious assault, endangering children, involuntary manslaughter, gross abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence and kidnapping, according to court documents.

Vega is the godmother of Eliazar Ruiz, whose skeletal remains were found buried in the 12900 block of Longmead Avenue in September 2017.

Authorities said the 4-year-old had likely been buried there several months before he was found. His death was ruled a homicide.

RELATED: Couple caught in Michigan 2 months after being charged for killing child, burying him in backyard

Both Vega and Tolbert are scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday, April 11 at 8:30 a.m. at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center.