What began as a desperate community-wide search for a missing Idaho infant ended in heartbreak after law enforcement located the body of 10-month-old Zeke Best—just 36 hours after issuing an Amber Alert that spread fear and urgency across the state.

The tragedy unfolded over a single harrowing weekend, drawing in local police, state investigators, federal agencies, and an entire community holding its breath for a miracle that never came.

The Amber Alert was issued after authorities suspected the baby’s father, Jeremy Albert Best, of abducting his son. Only hours earlier, Best had been identified as a person of interest in the homicide of his wife, Kali Jean Randall, whose lifeless body was discovered in their Victor, Idaho home. What began as a domestic homicide investigation quickly escalated into a statewide manhunt for the missing infant.

The break in the case came in the most unexpected way: a call from a hunter.

Early Saturday morning, a man traveling about 24 miles east of Idaho Falls encountered a disturbing scene—an adult male lying near the roadside, completely naked, wrapped in a sleeping bag, and making bizarre, incoherent statements. The hunter notified authorities immediately, unaware that he had just found the suspect every officer in Idaho had been searching for.

“The caller stated the man was naked and making odd statements,” police later confirmed.

Officers responding to the scene quickly identified the man as 36-year-old Jeremy Albert Best, the subject of the Amber Alert and the arrest warrant linked to his wife’s homicide. He was taken into custody without resistance and transported for evaluation. But the most urgent question remained unanswered: Where was baby Zeke?

Authorities continued searching the area, following tracks and vehicle traces through the snowy terrain until they discovered Best’s abandoned vehicle lodged in an embankment off the side of the road. It was there, near the crashed vehicle, that officers found baby Zeke—unresponsive.

Despite immediate attempts to assist, the infant was pronounced dead at the scene.

The discovery triggered what investigators later described as “a multi-agency processing of one of the most complex and devastating scenes the region has handled in years.” Idaho State Police, the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, and investigators from Teton County converged on the site to piece together what happened in Zeke’s final hours.

What they do know is this: the timeline began with a homicide, spiraled into a kidnapping, and ended with the loss of a child whose photograph had been shared thousands of times across Idaho in the hope he would be found alive.

Meanwhile, more details about the preceding homicide emerged. Kali Randall, Zeke’s mother, was found deceased in her Victor home the day before the Amber Alert was issued. Teton County officials ruled her death a homicide and immediately sought her husband, prompting the rapid release of the missing-child alert when they realized he had fled with their son.

The community, still reeling from the news of Kali’s death, was shattered once again when the Amber Alert transitioned into a recovery mission.

Images of Zeke—bright-eyed and strapped to his mother’s back in happier moments—spread across social media as residents offered prayers, assistance, and tips to authorities. But the heartbreaking update on Saturday brought an abrupt halt to hope.

Best is currently being held in the Bonneville County Jail, awaiting arraignment. As of late Saturday, it remained unclear whether an attorney had been assigned to represent him.

Law enforcement agencies issued a solemn statement following the discovery of Zeke’s body:

“Our thoughts are with the family of the victims involved in this case.”

The message underscored the emotional weight carried by investigators, first responders, and community members who had spent more than a day hoping to save the baby. Instead, they now find themselves piecing together the remnants of a family destroyed by violence.

As Idaho mourns, the case raises far-reaching questions about domestic violence, mental health, and the unpredictable dangers that can erupt behind closed doors. What was meant to be a season of holiday celebration instead became a chilling reminder of how quickly tragedy can unfold.

For now, residents of Teton County and beyond are left grieving a life that had barely begun—and hoping that justice will bring some measure of closure to a story that has shaken the region to its core.