A mother and two of her children have been charged in the death of her six year-old son after they spun a 'completely false' story...
A mother and two of her children have been charged in the death of her six year-old son after they spun a 'completely false' story 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 reportedly told authorities that he may have gone missing in Skokie, Illinois, where he and his 16-year-old sister were driven to a party, according to NBC 5 Chicago.
When police questioned the girl, 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.
But investigators quickly uncovered several contradictions in the story 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.
His cause of death has not yet been revealed, and an autopsy is scheduled for Monday.
But on Friday, Damari's mother and two of his siblings were brought into custody.
Damari Perry, 6, was found dead near an abandoned home in Gary, Indiana
His 20-year-old brother, Jeremiah R. Perry, (pictured) 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 authorities, 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 family' on December 29, NBC 5 Chicago reports, and as a result, family members put him in the cold shower.
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.
Jeremiah was also charged with aggravated battery causing great bodily harm to a child under 12, concealing a homicidal death and obstructing justice. A judge on Sunday ordered him held on a $3 million bail.
And an unnamed juvenile sibling also faces charges in Lake County Juvenile Court, with no further details offered on that suspect.
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.'
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