Who is Damari Perry’s mother Jannie Perry?
A SIX-year-old boy from Chicago was reported missing on Wednesday, January 5, 2022.
Damari Perry's body was found two days later in Gary, Indiana.
Who is Damari Perry's mother Jannie Perry?
On Saturday, January 8, 2022, the Lake County Illinois State's Attorney Office announced they had charged Perry's mother, Jannie, with first-degree murder, concealment of a homicidal death, and obstructing justice.
According to prosecutors, Jannie "punished" Perry with the help of his sibling, reportedly keeping him in a cold shower for an extended period of time before his death.
Included in the charges is Perry's 20-year-old brother, Jeremiah.
Jeremiah faces charges of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm to a child under 12, concealing a homicidal death, and obstructing justice.
Another sibling of Perry's faces charges in a juvenile court.
The Lake County Assistant State's Attorney, Kyle Doyle, said the family of Perry reported he "did something that the mother felt he needed to be punished for," six days before he was reported missing, on December 30, 2021.
Later that day, Perry was forced into a tub or shower with the cold water on, said Doyle.
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What happened to Damari Perry?
According to Doyle, after Perry died on December 30, Jannie and Jeremiah allegedly discussed how to dispose of his body, eventually taking him to Indiana.
It wasn't until almost a week later that he was reported missing.
The state's attorney's office said the family of Perry initially alleged he might be missing in Skokie.
Doyle added the information provided to police "was not accurate."
With the help of the FBI, North Chicago detectives and DCFS caseworkers brought family members into Lake County State’s Attorney’s Children’s Advocacy Center for questioning.
Between January 6 and 7, 2022, multiple juvenile witnesses were interviewed, with federal agents and North Chicago detectives focusing their attention on the mother and siblings of Perry by the end of Friday night.
According to the state's attorney's office, information from the witnesses led to the discovery of Perry's body in Indiana.
What has been said about Damari Perry?
"Our hearts ache over the murder of 6-year-old Damari Perry," said Lake County State's Attorney, Eric Rinehart.
"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."
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"Prosecutors, investigators, and victim support professionals worked late into the night and into the early morning to make sure we understood this tragic crime now, because of their rigorous and detailed investigation, we will be able to bring Damari’s killers to justice in a courtroom," Rinehart continued.
The investigation is currently ongoing.