Human remains found in a wooded area were identified as 5-year-old Nefertiti Harris, and an autopsy performed Wednesday determined the cause of her death to be homicide by multiple blunt force injuries, the Onondaga County Health Department said.

Police officers in Syracuse discovered the remains around 11 a.m. Tuesday with help from the child's mother, Latasha Mott, who has been charged with manslaughter and disposal of a corpse in the case, according to court documents.

Mott, 29, struck Nefertiti with a belt at her home on West Beard Avenue, then tried to hide her body, according to court documents.

The child was located with clothes and bedding on her body, police said.

The investigation started as a missing-persons case on Saturday. After talking to the suspect, city police say they realized it was more serious.

Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick believes Mott isn’t the only person who buried Harris' body, and said her boyfriend is also under investigation.