'Brutal And Heinous' Damari Perry Killing Could Lead To Life Sentences For Mother, Brother

WAUKEGAN, IL — The mother and brother of a North Chicago boy whose body was found partially charred in an abandoned house in northwest Indiana were indicted Wednesday by a Lake County grand jury.

Jannie Perry, 38, and Jeremiah Perry, 20, were charged in a 19-count indictment a day after the funeral of 6-year-old Damari Perry, who was first reported missing by his family in Skokie on Jan. 4 and found dead in Gary, Indiana, on Jan. 8. Authorities said he was never actually missing.

Authorities said the mother and son planned together to punish Damari Perry by forcing him to spend time in a cold shower. According to police and prosecutors, no one sought medical attention after he began vomiting and lost consciousness.

Instead, they sought to hide his death. An preliminary autopsy report later showed some of his organs were frozen and suggested the boy died from hypothermia.

Charges include eight counts of first-degree murder, as well as charges of aggravated battery of a child, dismembering a human body, abuse of a corpse, aggravated domestic battery, concealment of a homicidal death, conspiracy and endangering the life or health of a child.

Both were also charged with obstructing justice, and Jannie Perry was charged with one count of failure to report the death of disappearance of a child under 13 years of age.

If they are convicted of murder, prosecutors may pursue life sentences for both because the grand jury found evidence that Damari Perry's killing was "exceptionally brutal and heinous,” according to the state's attorney's office.

Prosecutors said they could seek sentences of up to 60 years each for just the dismembering charge, which was triggered by evidence that the boy's remains were burned after his death.

Jannie Perry previously lost custody of her children following a Illinois Department of Children and Family Services investigation, and Damari Perry joined four other siblings in foster care following his birth in 2015.

And in May 2021, four years after her children were returned to her custody, DCFS investigated an allegation that Damari had been abused by his mother, but that was determined to be unfounded.

---

Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart said in a statement that staff in his office have worked nights and weekends to investigate the case.

“As prosecutors considered the crime scene where Damari died, it became clear that this was a calculated plan against a small child," Rinehart said.

"Damari’s final minutes warrant the sentencing enhancements that accompany such ‘brutal and heinous’ circumstances," he added. "The defendants’ stunning failure to seek medical attention demonstrates their intent to end Damari’s life. Transporting and burning the body as part of a cover up also warranted the additional serious charges we filed today.”

Related:

• Damari Perry's Mom Makes 1st Court Appearance After Murder Charge
• DCFS Investigated Abuse, Neglect Of Damari Perry Before His Death
• Mom Charged With Murdering 6-Year-Old Damari Perry, Dumping Body