Austin police investigating the disappearance of 33-year-old Heidi Broussard and her 3-week-old daughter Margot Carey say a healthy infant was found at a home in Houston Thursday night and that a woman's body was found nearby. Police confirmed Friday that a person has been arrested and charged with kidnapping and tampering with a corpse, but the identity of that person is not yet being released.
Officials investigating the disappearance said Friday afternoon that they have not yet positively identified the deceased woman as Broussard, or the infant as her daughter, but that they believe those identities will be confirmed.
Police said the medical examiner is performing an autopsy on the woman and will confirm her identity at that time; DNA tests are being done to confirm the identity of the infant.
According to police, the suspect, believed to be a close friend of the victim, has been charged with two counts of kidnapping and tampering with a corpse. More charges are likely to be filed in the case -- the investigation, police said, is active and ongoing.
Tammy Broussard, Heidi's mother, said police told her that the woman's body, believed to be her daughter, was found in the trunk of a car in Jersey Village Thursday night.
The baby found is "healthy" and is currently with Child Protective Services, police said.
KPRC reported the Harris County Medical Examiner's office was seen at the home. The FBI also confirmed it was at the site to investigate, but no further details were released.
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The fire department said the original call regarding the Jersey Village home came from Child Protective Services.
Broussard and her child were last seen in Austin Dec. 12 when she dropped her 6-year-old son off at school, police said.
Police said they believed she returned to her apartment. Her boyfriend told police that he came home to find the front door wide open, along with her car, purse and baby bag left behind.
Police said there were no signs of a struggle.
