Police seek Texas family that may have tried to bring boy back to life

BALCH SPRINGS, Texas - Authorities are searching for a couple they believe tried to bring their toddler back to life before heading for the border with Mexico, reports CBS DFW.

Police reportedly say that officers arrived at a home on Duke Drive on March 26 to do a welfare check. They were told a 2-year old child had died and a "rising ceremony" had been performed for the child at the home in an attempt to resurrect him, the station reports.

According to those living in the home, the house served as a church. Police are not releasing any names but reportedly say they are investigating the case as a homicide.

One neighbor told the station, "I'm surprised they didn't investigate it earlier." But police say they did not receive a tip about the child's death until four days after he supposedly died.

"We don't know if this was to try and resurrect the spirit of the child and we don't know if this was to try and resurrect the child themselves or what exactly that service or ceremony encompasses," said Lt. Mark Maret.

The day after the ceremony the child's body was reportedly taken to Mexico for burial by the parents and other members of the church. Detectives have not been able to find the parents or anyone else who took the child out of the country.

A police lieutenant told the station that this was the by far the strangest case his department has ever had to investigate in Balch Springs.