Des Plaines Woman Gets 40 Years For Killing 3-Year-Old Nephew

Victoria Moreno pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was found guilty but mentally ill in the 2022 death of Josiah Bell Brown.

By Eric DeGrechie, Patch Staff

Sep 17, 2026 4:05 PM CDT

Victoria Moreno, formerly of Des Plaines, was sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in the 2022 death of her 3-year-old nephew, Josiah Bell Brown. (Cook County Sheriff's Office)

DES PLAINES, IL — A former resident of Des Plaines accused of pushing her 3-year-old nephew into Lake Michigan near Navy Pier in 2022 has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and been sentenced to 40 years in prison.

According to the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, court records show Victoria Moreno entered a guilty plea Wednesday to one count of first-degree murder.

Cook County Judge Thomas Byrne found Moreno guilty but mentally ill and sentenced her to 40 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, according to the State's Attorney's Office.

Moreno, who was 34 and living in the 900 block of Greenview Avenue in Des Plaines at the time, was initially charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery after police said she pushed Josiah Bell Brown into Lake Michigan on Sept. 19, 2022.

Police said Moreno did not attempt to rescue the boy. Divers searched for about 30 minutes before finding Josiah, who was taken to Lurie Children's Hospital in critical condition.

Josiah died six days later, and prosecutors subsequently upgraded the case to first-degree murder.

Moreno, now 38, has remained in Cook County Jail custody since she was booked Sept. 21, 2022, according to Cook County Sheriff's Office records.

The sheriff's custody record lists her most recent court appearance as Sept. 16 at the Criminal Courts Building and shows her being held without bond.

Earlier this month, Moreno was again found mentally fit to stand trial while taking medication, ABC7 Chicago reported. She had previously been found fit in February 2024 before additional psychiatric evaluations were ordered.

Her attorneys have said she had been diagnosed with depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder, according to ABC7.

Josiah's grandfather, Dan Brown, previously described the child to ABC7 as a "bundle of joy" who was energetic and deeply attached to his father.

The Sept. 16 plea and sentencing bring to a close a criminal case that had been pending for nearly four years.