PEORIA, Ill. – The parents of Navin Jones, 8, have been indicted on six counts each of First Degree Murder.
That’s the announcement from Peoria County State’s Attorney Jodi Hoos Tuesday afternoon at a rare news conference — in the cases of Stephanie Jones, 35, and Brandon Walker, 40.
“The shocking conduct…includes text messages between the defendants, where they discuss locking Navin in his room, tying Navin up in the basement, beating Navin because he had urinated in his bedroom because he was unable to open his door to go to the bathroom,” said Hoos.
The charges supercede the ones previously filed by prosecutors after young Navin died March 29th — allegedly underweight, malnourished, and with bruises all over his body.
“In the 911 call, the defendant — Jones — first complains about Navin, before she even tells a dispatcher that he’s not breathing,” said Hoos.
Hoos also wants the bonds against Jones and Walker increased.
“With his parents for the last six months of Navin’s life, he was tortured, beaten, starved, and imprisoned — all by the two people there to protect him,” said Hoos.
A lot of criticism is being given to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services in how they handled interactions with Jones and Walker leading up to the boy’s death. Hoos says there’s not much she can do about DCFS.
“I don’t really have any comments on what other agencies did or didn’t do before this,” said Hoos. “My investigation is focused on who is responsible for the murder, and that is the two parents.”
Jones and Walker are scheduled to be back in court Thursday afternoon for an arraignment hearing.
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