VERNON PARISH, La.– Sheriff Sam Craft of the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office reports that jurisdictional issues have been one of the biggest hurdles with regards to the investigation of 2-year-old Willow Renteria-Molina’s death.

Willow was reported missing from a home in Vernon Parish on May 5, 2016 but, was discovered deceased in Beauregard Parish on May 6, 2016.

“We have been working closely with the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office as well as the Calcasieu Parish Coroner’s Office to determine the manner of death as well as the time of the death. This information weighed greatly on the decision of who would lead the investigation and the prosecution.”

According to the autopsy report, Willow’s death has been ruled a homicide and the date of her death has been determined to be Wednesday May 04, 2016.

Based on this information, “It is indicative that Willow died in Vernon Parish, therefore, we are going to be the lead agency on the investigation” said Craft. “We have been and will continue to work very closely with the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office as well as the Louisiana State Police and the FBI.“

“Rodney Don Bailey Jr. was the caregiver of the child when she died and is believed to be the primary person of interest in her death, however, we are not ruling out the possibility of someone else being involved”, said Craft. “An arrest has not been made as of yet in the case due to the fact that we are awaiting the results of several forensic tests.