Child’s remains found in woman’s trunk in Hall County, warrant says

A woman was arrested Sunday after the remains of a child were found in the trunk of her car in Hall County, court documents reveal.

Jessica Maria Motes, 36, was booked into the Hall County jail and remained there Wednesday without bond. She is facing a charge of felony concealing the death of another.

According to an arrest warrant, Motes was seen by her father driving a Nissan sedan into the parking lot of a Sam’s Club and Walmart Supercenter on Mundy Mill Road in Oakwood, about 15 minutes south of Gainesville. There, she spoke with her father, telling him that she “hurt (redacted content)” and “I think she is dead,” the warrant states.

Her father then drove her away from the parking lot and they eventually encountered law enforcement, officials wrote in the warrant. How exactly law enforcement became involved has not been disclosed.

The remains of the juvenile “were later found in the trunk of the Nissan sedan,” the warrant states. Authorities said the vehicle was registered to Motes.

The child’s age, cause of death and connection to Motes were not provided.

The GBI is the lead agency on the case after being asked by the Oakwood Police Department and the Hall County Sheriff’s Office for assistance. The state agency said the case remains active and “there is no information we can release at this time.”