Authorities say the body of a missing 4-year-old California boy was found in the clothes dryer of a neighbor's home and a 14-year-old boy from the house in Mendota has been arrested on suspicion of the killing.

Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims told The Fresno Bee that 4-year-old Alex Christopher Mercado's body was found Saturday. According to Mims, the boy was placed in the dryer after he was killed.

Sheriff's spokesman Chris Curtice says Alex's parents reported him missing Friday afternoon. Deputies joined by dozens of volunteers combed the area through the night and the boy was found in the dryer about 24 hours after he disappeared.

The suspect _ whose name was not released _ was arrested later in the day.