Crime & Safety
Real Horror on Halloween: Dad Accused of Stomping Son to Death, Beating Pregnant Fiancée
Devon Thomas, 22, faces murder and battery charges. His alleged assault on his fiancée also caused her to go into labor, prosecutors say.
CHICAGO, IL — A father is accused of a string of abusive incidents that culminated in a horrific Halloween, in which he allegedly stomped to death his 3-year-old son and beat his pregnant fiancée so severely she went into labor, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Devon Thomas, 22, of the 12200 block of South Green Street, was charged with murder and aggravated battery in connection with the child's death and his fiancée's assault. After his arrest, Thomas admitted to beating his son in a taped confession, and he was ordered held without bail during a hearing Thursday, the report stated.
According to prosecutors, Thomas repeatedly punched his son, Tayveon, on Saturday, Oct. 29, the Tribune reports. He also choked his fiancée to the point of almost passing out after she tried to stop Thomas from beating the boy, who also was the woman's son, the report added.
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On Monday, Thomas allegedly returned to beating Tayveon, punching him in the chest, the report stated. He also reportedly stomped on the boy's legs, arms and other body parts while wearing boots, the report added.
Again, the fiancée tried to stop the abuse, and again, Thomas attacked her, the report stated. This time, he allegedly slapped her so hard that she hit a wall in their shared apartment and fell to the floor, the report added.
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Eventually, the fiancée noticed an unresponsive Tayveon lying face down on his bed, according to the Tribune. That's when the woman began CPR on the boy, and Thomas called 911, the report added.
Tayveon was taken to Roseland Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the report stated. After an autopsy, the Cook County medical examiner's office ruled the boy's death a homicide because of the numerous injuries and other signs of abuse, the report added.
Shortly after Tayveon was pronounced dead, the fiancée prematurely gave birth, the Tribune reports.
Devon Thomas, 22 (photo via Cook County's Sheriff's Police)
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