A mother and two of her children have been charged with the death of her six-year-old son after they lied that he was missing after he was killed.
Damari Perry, 6, was reported missing on January 5 by his mother Jannie Perry, 38, and his 20-year-old brother, Jeremiah R. Perry.
They told authorities that he might have gone missing in Skokie, Illinois, where he and his 16-year-old sister were going to a party, according to NBC 5 Chicago.
When police questioned the sister, she reportedly told officers that she fell asleep after having several drinks and woke up to find that Damari and the man who had driven them were gone.
Mum is charged with murder after her missing son, 6, was found dead
But investigators quickly uncovered several lies in the story from the mum and siblings based on evidence they found in Skokie, and instead turned their attention to the boy’s North Chicago home.
They interviewed several juvenile witnesses at the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center, who led them to find Damari’s body near an abandoned home in Gary, Indiana.
On Friday, January 7, Damari’s mother and two of his siblings were brought into custody.
His 20-year-old brother, Jeremiah R. Perry, was charged with aggravated battery causing great bodily harm to a child under 12, concealing a homicidal death and obstructing justice. He is being held on a $3 million bond.
According to police, Damari was punished by being placed in a cold shower for an undetermined amount of time prior to his death.
He reportedly ‘did something to upset the family’.
At some point, Damari vomited and was then taken out of the shower, but he eventually died. Prosecutors claim the relatives did not call for medical help and instead spun the ‘completely false’ story about Skokie.
Damari’s mother, Jannie, is now charged with first-degree murder, concealment of a homicidal death and obstructing justice.
More charges could be filed against the family as the investigation continues.
‘Our hearts ache over the murder of 6-year-old Damari Perry,’ Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said in a statement. ‘We would not have reached the awful truth of this case without the work of the FBI, the North Chicago Police Department and the investigators and staff at the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center.’
‘Prosecutors, investigators and victim support professionals worked late into the night and into the early morning to make sure we understand this tragic crime,’ he continued. ‘Now, because of their rigorous and detailed investigation, we will be able to bring Damari’s killers to justice in a courtroom.’
