The short, tragic life of Baby Zeke: Abducted infant found dead with injured murder suspect father

IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO: On Saturday, December 2, 10-month-old Zeke Best was tragically found dead after allegedly being abducted by his father, Jeremy Albert Best.

Jeremy Best was also suspected of murdering Zeke’s mother a few days back on Thursday, November 30, per reports.

Jeremy Albert Best was released from medical facility hours before alleged murder-kidnapping

The events leading to the discovery of Zeke's body began earlier on Thursday when Best was seen walking naked through a general store in Swan Valley, Idaho. According to reports, Best was leaning on the store’s counter near a cash register when several customers dragged him out of the building as he tried to grab a cigarette, per Daily Mail.

Deputies from the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the scene at around 11.55 am, per the County Sheriff's News Release, and took Best to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for a psychological evaluation. Despite Best’s erratic behavior, he was released from the center on the same day.

Tragically, just hours after Best’s release, deputies received a 911 call around 11.40 pm from Best’s home. On the call, the dispatcher heard arguing before the line went silent.

When deputies arrived at the home, they found Zeke’s mother, Kali Jean Randall, 38, dead from an apparent homicide. Zeke, who was just 10 months old, was nowhere to be found.

Baby Zeke was found dead near injured Jeremy Albert Best 36 hours after abduction

An intense search ensued for Zeke and his father, who authorities considered “heavily armed and dangerous.” The manhunt ended tragically Saturday morning when search crews found Zeke’s body next to Best, who was alive but injured.

The discovery occurred around 9.15 am on Saturday about 36 hours after Randall’s body was found. This came after two hunters came across a naked man in a sleeping bag near the side of a road making odd statements. The man was identified as Best.

Deputies from the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office searched the area and found Zeke’s body near an embankment close to Best’s black Chevy SUV. The vehicle appeared to have gone off the road into the embankment. Zeke’s cause of death has not yet been determined.

Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, are investigating the scene. Best was detained and treated for unspecified injuries before being booked into Bonneville County Jail on a homicide warrant.

According to Bonneville County Coroner Rick Taylor, Zeke’s body will undergo an autopsy in Boise to determine the cause of the child's death.

Kali Jean Randall was believed to be pregnant when killed by Jeremy Albert Best

The tragic events have rocked the small town of Idaho Falls, leaving the community mourning the deaths of Randall and young Zeke.

Randall, who was believed to be pregnant, was found dead from a homicide in the home she shared with Best and Zeke. Best allegedly abducted Zeke and went on the run after killing Randall late Thursday evening.

An Amber Alert was issued early Friday morning as law enforcement agencies across Idaho urgently searched for the missing infant and his father. The manhunt ended roughly 36 hours later with the tragic discovery of Zeke’s body and the arrest of his father.

Best will remain jailed until his arraignment. The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office said its “thoughts are with the family of the victims involved in this case.” The sheriff's office added that further information about the case will be released “at an appropriate time in the future as the investigation is still ongoing.”