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LAKE COUNTY, Ill. - Editor’s note: This story contains details that may be disturbing to some readers. Discretion is advised.
A suburban Chicago mother will spend decades in prison after pleading guilty to the murder of her 6-year-old son, prosecutors said.
What we know:
Jannie Perry, 42, was sentenced Thursday to 45 years in prison for the killing of her son, Damari Perry, according to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Perry pleaded guilty Dec. 4, 2025, to one count of first-degree murder, prosecutors said.
Pictured is Jannie Perry, 42. (Lake County State's Attorney)
What happened in court:
Two North Chicago police detectives testified during the sentencing hearing. They said family members reported Damari missing in January 2022. As the investigation began, authorities determined the family’s account was fabricated.
After interviewing witnesses, detectives learned that on Dec. 30, 2021, Damari took food from the garbage, which angered Perry and others in the household, prosecutors said.
As punishment, Damari was placed in a cold shower and later became unresponsive. No one in the home sought medical attention, prosecutors said.
Instead, relatives drove the boy’s body to Indiana, burned it and left it near an abandoned garage, detectives testified.
A witness later directed investigators to the location of the body.
Damari’s father gave a victim impact statement, describing his son as "a strong, sweet and loving little boy who only wanted to be loved by those around him."
Prosecutors argued the killing was not the result of a mistake but part of a pattern of abuse by Perry.
Video evidence shown in court appeared to show Damari malnourished, with a patch of missing hair. Prosecutors also presented text messages in which Perry allegedly referred to her son as "ugly" and said she was "tired" of him.
What we don't know:
Authorities have not released additional details about the incident or about other relatives of Perry's.
What's next:
Perry received the maximum sentence of 45 years and must serve 100% of it, prosecutors said.
The Source: The information in this article was provided by the Lake County State's Attorney's Office.