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Funeral Arrangements Set For Wis. Boy Found In Trunk

DRESSER, Wis. (WCCO) -– Funeral arrangements are planned for this week to remember a western Wisconsin toddler who was found dead inside a car trunk.

Authorities say a law enforcement officer found Isaiah Theis on the night of July 17, after thousands of people searched for the boy near his home in Centuria. According to preliminary reports, Isaiah died of hyperthermia.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office said Isaiah was found in the trunk with a key to that car. Isaiah's father runs a repair business, and the car belonged to a customer.

Authorities have yet to say how they think Isaiah ended up in the trunk. Police are still investigating the case. The Midwest Medical Examiner's Office said while it's not possible to give an exact time of death, "changes to Isaiah's body were consistent with him dying soon after the time he was last known to be alive."

The medical examiner said it is likely that Isaiah was dead or suffered irreversible damage by 9 p.m. on the night he disappeared, if he was already in the trunk around the time it was reported he was missing.

A visitation is scheduled to be held on Tuesday from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Trollhaugen Ski Resort in Dresser, Wis. That visitation is open to the public.

On Wednesday, there will be another visitation at Alliance Church of the Valley in St. Croix Falls. That visitation will be held at 10 a.m. before the boy is laid to rest in a private burial.

A memorial fund has also been set up for Theis's family. If you would like to donate, go to the Isaiah Theis Memorial Fund.

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