Mother, Two Siblings Charged in death of North Chicago 6-year-old Mother, Two Siblings Charged in death of North Chicago 6-year-old

OFFICE OF THE STATE'S ATTORNEY

LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS

ERIC F. RINEHART

STATE'S ATTORNEY

Mother Charged With Murder of Six-Year-Old; Siblings Charged With Hiding Body in Indiana

 

(Lake County, IL) - Lake County prosecutors have initiated murder charges after an intense investigation by local and federal agencies into the disappearance of 6-year-old Damari Perry. Damari’s body was found late Friday night.

On Saturday afternoon, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Damari’s mother, Jannie M. Perry, 38, with first-degree murder, concealment of a homicidal death, and obstructing justice. The office also charged Damari’s 20-year brother, Jeremiah R. Perry, with aggravated battery causing great bodily harm to a child under 12, concealing a homicidal death, and obstructing justice.

Another juvenile sibling of Damari faces charges in Lake County’s Juvenile Court. All three were taken into custody Friday night.

Damari Perry was reported missing Jan. 5 by the boy's mother and a sibling. The family initially provided information to police indicating that Damari might be missing in Skokie, Illinois. But investigators quickly turned their focus to the boy's home in North Chicago after the family's story was contradicted by evidence in Skokie.

Because of the involvement of out-of-state witnesses, the FBI led the investigation into Damari’s disappearance. Federal agents, North Chicago detectives, and DCFS caseworkers eventually brought family members to the Lake County State's Attorney's Children's Advocacy Center. At the Center, agents, detectives, caseworkers, prosecutors, and forensic interviewers questioned multiple juveniles on Thursday and Friday.

By late Friday night, FBI agents and North Chicago detectives had focused their investigation on the mother and the adult siblings.  Information from witnesses led to the discovery of Damari's body in Lake County, Indiana.  Throughout Friday and Saturday, prosecutors and law enforcement agents worked to finalize charges against the mother and two siblings.

Prosecutors indicate that more charges could be filed as the investigation continues, and the autopsy is completed next week in Indiana.  

Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart stated, “Our hearts ache over the murder of 6-year-old Damari Perry. 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 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 said.

Rinehart said that the obstructing justice charges stemmed from the family's "completely false" story about Skokie. Authorities stated on Saturday that the investigation determined there was no involvement by Skokie residents in the situation.

The defendants are expected to appear in Court on Sunday morning for a bond hearing.

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Lake County State's Attorney's Office

18 N. County Street

Waukegan, IL 60085  

Phone: (847) 377-3000