Father of missing 8-year-old Corona boy charged with murder

The father of an 8-year-old Corona boy who went missing in early March has been charged with murder, officials said Thursday morning.

Bryce McIntosh, 32, was charged with first-degree murder with a special circumstance of torture in connection with the disappearance of his son, Noah McIntosh, Riverside County Dist. Atty. Mike Hestrin said at a news conference.

The boy’s mother, Jillian Godfrey, remains in custody on child abuse charges, though she is not suspected in Noah’s death, officials said. She is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail.

Godfrey reported Noah missing March 12 and told police that she had not been able to contact him in two weeks, Corona Police Chief George Johnstone said. The next day, authorities served a search warrant at McIntosh’s apartment, where they arrested him.

Noah’s body has not been found and investigators have few details about what may have happened to him, but detectives say they have found significant evidence that indicates Noah is dead and links McIntosh to the crime.

“We did collect trace evidence that leaves no doubt that Noah is a victim of a homicide,” Johnstone said.

Areas in Temescal Valley, Aguanga and Murrieta have been searched, police said. Johnstone would not say what evidence has been found.

Police are asking for the public’s help to determine whether Noah was seen by anyone other than his parents between Feb. 20 and March 12. Investigators also are looking for McIntosh’s black BMW 330i with California license plate 5MKE807.

McIntosh has been uncooperative in the investigation, and Godfrey appears to have few details, officials said at the news conference.

“That is a point of frustration with the investigation,” Johnstone said. “It does not make sense that parents don’t know whereabouts or can’t give specific details of where he was last seen.”

Noah has an 11-year-old sister, but officials have not commented about her.

“This tears [at] the heart of every person that has touched this case,” the chief said. “There is no more trust a child should have than in their parents. In our hearts, we know the best we can do is bring justice for Noah.”

If convicted, McIntosh faces life in prison without parole, and the charges against him would make him eligible for the death penalty, Hestrin said.

Anyone with information can contact Corona Det. Mario Hernandez at (951) 279-3659 or Mario.Hernandez@CoronaCA.gov.

alejandra.reyesvelarde@latimes.com

Twitter: @r_valejandra