Thomas Dunn told KOAT-TV that 26-year-old David Zuber called in late December and said he needed to bury a cat. Dunn said that was OK because his family uses the yard as a pet cemetery.
But the family was surprised in early January when authorities showed up and found Anastazia Romero's body buried in a trash bag inside a duffel bag and under a dog's remains.
Police began looking for the child after a relative of Zuber said he had said the child drowned.
Zuber and 23-year-old Monique Romero were arrested and accused of charges that include child abuse resulting in death.