Navin Jones murder trial: Testimony reveals Illinois boy, 8, weighed just 30lb and looked 'like a skeleton' at time of death
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: The ongoing murder trial surrounding the tragic death of 8-year-old Navin Jones in Illinois has brought forth distressing revelations, with testimony revealing the boy was allegedly starved to death, and weighed a shocking 30 pounds at the time of his tragic demise by the hands of his disgraced parents.
Navin's parents, Stephanie Jones, 37, and Brandon Walker, 41, face charges of murder after their son was found lifeless and emaciated on March 29, 2022.
Disgraced Illinois parents starved child to death
During the trial, jurors were presented with graphic photographs depicting Navin's skeletal body, his bones visible through his skin. Dr Amanda Youmans of the Peoria County Coroner’s Office testified that the young boy weighed a mere 30 pounds at the time of his death.
“He didn’t look human. I touched his shoulder and there was nothing there but bone sticking out,” she said tearfully. “There were bruises all over his face. I’ve never seen a human being that thin. It was like a little skeleton.”
According to Dr Youmans, Navin's muscles had wasted away, his skin was discolored, and his internal organs had shrunk below normal sizes. Testimony revealed that Navin's wrists showed signs of being tied up, and his body was covered in bruises that it could no longer heal. The extent of malnutrition was so severe that Navin was unable to respond to injuries.
Prosecutors reveal cruel confinement and neglect
Prosecutors presented evidence suggesting that Navin's parents intentionally restricted his access to food and bathroom facilities. The 8-year-old had a sign on his bedroom door that read, "Do NOT give Navin any food or drinks! Do NOT let him out the room!"
Text messages exchanged between the parents expressed anger when Navin ate from the trash or urinated on the wall of his locked bedroom, where he was kept with a rope.
Detective Roberto Vasquez, who searched the home, described a "horrendous" odor emanating from Navin's room, unlike anything he had encountered before. Despite the squalid conditions in Navin's room, the rest of the house appeared typical for a family of four, with a well-stocked fridge.
The contrast between Navin and his older brother's living conditions painted a disturbing picture of parental neglect, with Navin's room containing only one toy, a bed with a dirty mattress and no sheets, and a closet filled with urine and feces. The 8-year-old boy went into cardiac arrest, triggered by starvation, as per Daily Mail.
Navin's grandmother, Laura Walker, who had custody of the boys, recounted seeing Navin in the hospital just before his death. In an emotional testimony, she described him as "like a little skeleton," with bruises covering his face and an unimaginable thinness.
The defense for Brandon Walker attempted to shift blame, attributing Navin's condition to chronic constipation and asserting that Walker's long hours as a trucker made him less culpable for the abuse.
Stephanie, Navin's mother, had previously pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in exchange for a reduced prison sentence. If convicted, Brandon faces up to life in prison.
