On December 12, 2006, authorities in San Diego recovered the missing body of Keithan Panyavong. The 19-month-old boy was reported missing by his parents on December 10, 2006 prompting a massive search by police and volunteers.

Police continued to question Keithan's parents and eventually Erika Panyavong confessed that she knew the whereabouts of her son's body. Authorities were then led to a dumpster three miles away from the family's home where Erika Panyavong disposed of the toddler's remains in a trash bag. Investigators say that the mother told detectives that she had given Keithan some medication and he stopped breathing. Currently, police say that she has not been charged with a crime.

The toddler's older siblings, a 12-year-old boy and 7-year-old girl, were taken from their home by county child protective services on December 11, 2006.