Meghan Youker

OMAHA (KPTM) -- An Omaha woman is arrested for murder and the victim may be her 12-year-old son.  Police say they found a body so badly decomposed inside a home near 28th and Ida Street, it may take investigators several days to positively identify the person.

Melissa Moreno looks across the street and shudders to think.  "He was innocent.  I don't know who would do that or why," she said.

Sunday afternoon Omaha police were called to check on the wellbeing of a mother and child who live alone near 28th and Ida Street.  By Monday morning, police had removed a decomposing body and arrested 46-year-old Angela Manns, the mother, on suspicion of first-degree murder.  "We haven't seen no cars come in and out that driveway, we haven't seen anybody, no traffic, nothing," Moreno said.

Neighbors tell KPTM they first noticed a strong smell in the area the last week of June and say since about that time, they've seen flies swarming in the windows.

Police say the victim has been dead for so long, figuring out who he or she is isn't easy.  "There are some hurdles there for us to overcome into being able to positively identify who that person is, specifically at this time, even a gender," said Ofc. Jacob Bettin of the Omaha Police Department.

Meanwhile the principal of Minne Lusa Elementary School hopes for the best, but fears the worst.  Manns' son Michael Belitz is officially missing.  He just finished the sixth grade.  "If the police investigation comes out that there was a tragedy, you know it's just a huge loss to our community and to our district if that's the case," said Principal Matt Piechota.

Piechota says Michael is a successful and helpful student, a boy first to arrive to school in the morning and one who always lingers on the playground in the afternoon.  He says Michael's been very active in school activities from Youth Congress to scouting.  "Very inquisitive about just about everything, always an avid reader, again loved to share information and loved to talk to people," Piechota said.

Michael Belitz would be a seventh grader at McMillan Magnet Middle School in the fall.  Again, police cannot say whether or not he's the victim.  At this point, officers say he's only unaccounted for.  It will take an autopsy and additional testing to know for sure.