NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. — A 6-year-old boy from suburban Chicago, who was reported missing, was found dead Saturday morning in Indiana, authorities said.
Update 12:10 a.m. EST Jan. 9: Prosecutors confirmed Saturday afternoon that the mother of 6-year-old Damari Perry has been charged with his murder, and his siblings have been charged with hiding his body in Gary, Indiana, where authorities discovered it Saturday, WLS-TV reported.
Thirty-eight-year-old Jannie M. Perry, Damari’s mother, has been charged with first-degree murder, concealment of a homicide and obstruction of justice, prosecutors announced during a Saturday afternoon news conference.
Jeremiah R. Perry, the boy’s 20-year-old brother, has also been charged with aggravated battery, concealing a homicide and obstruction of justice. A third family member, identified only as a juvenile sibling, is also facing undisclosed charges, WLS-TV reported.
Original report: According to FBI Chicago officials, Damari Perry’s body was found near an abandoned house in Gary, WLS-TV reported. Three of the child’s family members are in police custody in connection with his death, according to the television station.
According to police, Perry, from North Chicago, and his 16-year-old sister were driven to a party in Skokie, Illinois, by a woman known as Monique and a man known as “Wacko” or “Chaos,” WGN-TV reported.
Monique was reportedly driving a black Nissan four-door sedan with a dent on the front passenger side and tinted front windows, WBBM-TV reported.
Perry’s sister told police she had several drinks at the party and fell asleep, WMAQ-TV reported. She said when she woke up two hours later, her brother and “Wacko” were no longer at the party, the television station reported. The girl told police that Monique drove her back to North Chicago.
The boy’s mother, Jannie Perry, said she had no idea where the friend’s house is located in Skokie, WFLD-TV reported. The boy’s sister told police that the apartment building where the party was held was possibly a three-story, yellow building with an exposed stairway, according to the television station.
North Chicago police are leading the investigation, with Skokie police assisting, according to WLS. The FBI confirmed Friday that they are also involved in the investigation.
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