BREAKING FIRST ON 3: Airman charged with homicide, manslaughter in baby’s death

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The Air Force confirms it is investigating an airman at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base for his involvement in the death of his child. The child’s body was found in Columbus County Tuesday afternoon.

Matthew Theurer was in the Sampson County Jail. Sampson County Sheriff Jimmy Thornton says officials from the Air Force picked Theurer up from the jail around 1:30 p.m. There’s no word where they’ve taken him. Theurer is charged with child endangerment, negligent homicide and involuntary manslaughter, Thornton said.

Columbus County Sheriff Chris Batten says his office got a call from investigators at Seymour Johnson Air Force base yesterday, who said a baby’s body may be in a trash bag in the county. Based on the tip, deputies located the body in a wooded area off NC 905 about three-quarters of a mile from Gore Chapel Road near Nakina. Batten says his officers maintained the scene until Air Force investigators could arrive to take over.