Sickening moment cops find ‘skeletal’ boy, eight, beaten and starved to death in his Illinois home where he had a sign on his door: ‘Do NOT give Navin any food’
- Navin Jones, 8, was found unresponsive in a skeletal and emaciated state at his Peoria home on March 29, 2022
- His father now faces up to life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder – while his mom already pleaded guilty to the heinous crime
By Claudia Aoraha, Senior Reporter For Dailymail.Com[1]
Published: 21:59, 13 December 2023 | Updated: 22:41, 13 December 2023
An Illinois[2] boy was found beaten and starved at his home before he tragically died in hospital had a sign on his bedroom door read: ‘Don’t give Navin any food.’
Navin Jones, eight, was found unresponsive in a skeletal and emaciated state at his Peoria home on March 29, 2022. His father now faces up to life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder – while his mom already pleaded guilty to the heinous crime[3].
The little boy weighed just 30 pounds, and he was found in a locked room that was covered in urine and feces. He had signs of physical abuse across his face, body, arms, and legs.
A note on Navin’s bedroom door read: ‘Don’t give Navin any food or drink.
Do not let him out of the room. He has what he needs until I wake up.’
Navin Jones, 8, seen here not long before his death, was found unresponsive in a skeletal and emaciated state at his Peoria home on March 29, 2022. His father now faces up to life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder – while his mom already pleaded guilty to the heinous crimes
A note on Navin’s bedroom door read: ‘Don’t give Navin any food or drink.
Do not let him out of the room. He has what he needs until I wake up’
Prosecutors said that the boy’s room was disgusting and deplorable, with just a bed and one toy, while the rest of the home on North Gale Avenue was ‘well furnished’ with a fully stocked fridge and pantry.
His mother Stephanie Jones, 37, faces at least 20 years in prison when she is sentenced next February.
The boy is seen here when he was younger
In return for her guilty plea, State’s Attorney Jodi Hoos agreed not to give her a life sentence.
Jones has now agreed to testify against the boy’s father Brandon Walker, 41. His trial is ongoing.
Body cam footage has since revealed the moment that Peoria police showed up to Jones and Walker’s home after Jones called 911 to report Navin was cold and lifeless.
Officers in the clip immediately take issue with Jones’ story and the state of the boy’s body.
Stephanie, the mother, is seen sitting on the steps of the home, crying into her hands, while smoking a cigarette.
When the father is told that there is a chance the child cannot be resuscitated, Brandon runs to a car, smashes his fists onto the hood, and shouts: ‘There’s no f**king way.’
Jones and Walker were both charged with first degree murder.
Jones pleaded guilty, while Walker’s trial is still ongoing
Rope, used to keep his bedroom door shut, is seen here
Navin’s bed in his family home
Navin’s closet, which had feces and urine inside, police said
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Bodycam inside the home showed the clutter – but also the bare room that Navin had been living in.
Rope, used to keep his door shut, was visible, as was a note written to his older brother by one of his parents, saying not to feed Navin.
Before being in the care of his mother and father, Navin was being looked after by his legal guardian, his grandmother, Laura Walker. She had been doing so since the boy was just five months old.
After briefly leaving Washington in July 2021, she returned to find Walker and Jones refusing to give the boy back to her.
In an attempt to get the boy back under her watch, Laura Walker contacted the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, the Washington Police Department, and the Peoria Peoria Department.
She said that nothing changed despite her efforts.
Stephanie, the mother, is seen sitting on the steps of the home, crying into her hands, while smoking a cigarette
When the father (brown shirt) is told that there is a chance the child cannot be resuscitated, Brandon runs to a car, smashes his fists onto the hood, and shouts: ‘There’s no f**king way’
Cops performing a wellness check at the home just a month before the boy was found unconscious and died
DCFS investigated Laura Walker’s claims, but said that her allegations were ‘unfounded.’
In February 2022, an anonymous tip led DCFS to visit the home. Navin was observed to be ‘sickly,’ thin, and small.
Because Navin told the caseworker that he wanted to stay with his parents, they noted that he was safe.
Just over a month later, on March 29, Navin was found unresponsive.
Stephanie, his mother, told cops she put the boy in the shower when she noticed he wasn’t breathing. Navin died later that day in the hospital.
Detective Roberto Vasquez, who attended the scene, said the smell coming from the little boy’s room was unlike anything he had smelt before. There were no sheets or blankets on his bed.
In court, forensic pathologist Amanda Youmans who performed Navin’s autopsy said that the little boy had lost the fat layer under his skin and showed signs of chronic malnutrition
His bedroom door did not have a doorknob, and instead, there was a rope to keep it closed.
In court, forensic pathologist Amanda Youmans who performed Navin’s autopsy said that the little boy had lost the fat layer under his skin and showed signs of chronic malnutrition.
Navin would have had limited mobility before his death because his muscles had to atrophy.
The boy was also covered in bruises – including on his wrists – consistent with being restrained that had been caused by blunt force trauma.
Youmans said that his death was ruled as failure to thrive due to malnutrition.
The boy also went into cardiac arrest, triggered by starvation.
Shocking text messages between Jones and Walker, seized in October 2021 and showed in grand jury testimony, showed Walker wanting to put the boy in the basement after he peed on the wall.
Gary Morris, Walker’s attorney, has blamed DCFS for not giving legal guardianship to Jones and Walker.
He said: ‘DCFS has got to be more responsible about getting the guardianship changed from one person to another when they need medical attention because everyone agreed they couldn’t take the child to the doctor and that is a fact.’
Brandon Walker’s trial is ongoing, after Stephanie Jones pleaded guilty to first-degree murder on Thursday.