Six-year-old Chicago boy Damari Perry's life ended in the most gruesome and tragic way imaginable -- he was the victim of a despicable crime committed by members of his own family.
Three family members allegedly forced Perry into a cold shower on December 30. The six-year-old was forced to shower until he threw up and passed out.
After the boy died, his body was allegedly dumped by family members near an abandoned house in Gary, Indiana.
Read more about this disturbing case below.
In a press release, the Lake County Coroner's Office said that Damari died of hypothermia, as reported by Fox News.
Coroner David Pastrick said Damari froze to death before his partially burned body suffered "charring." He was found naked and wrapped in a plastic trash bag.
Dr. Zhou Wang, who conducted the postmortem exam, said that bruising was found on Damari's right leg and that his internal organs were "partially frozen."
Test results for toxicology and histology could take another month, according to officials.
Damari's mother Jannie Perry, 38, was charged on Saturday with first-degree murder, concealment of a homicidal death and obstructing justice.
Damari's 20-year-old brother, Jeremiah R. Perry, was charged with aggravated battery causing great bodily harm to a child under 12, concealing a homicidal death and obstructing justice.
A third Perry sibling was also charged in the case, but since they are a juvenile information about the charges is being withheld from the public.
Read more about Damari's family and what was done to him below.
Damari's family told police and the press that the boy went missing on Wednesday after his 16-year-old sister brought him to a party -- but that turned out to be a lie.
"The family initially provided information to police indicating that Damari might be missing in Skokie, Illinois," Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Reinhardt's office explained in a statement.
"But investigators quickly turned their focus to the boy's home in North Chicago after the family's story was contradicted by evidence in Skokie," the statement continued.
According to ABC 7 Chicago, Damari's mom Jannie lost custody of her four other children after an investigation by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services in 2014.
Damari was placed into foster care in December 2015, but Jannie regained custody of him -- and her other children -- in 2017 after a court order.
In addition, the Department of Children and Family Services investigated an allegation of abuse or neglect involving Damari in May 2021, but the investigation was dismissed in June.
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