Overview
- First responders reached a home on the 1900 block of Cedar Lake Road around 2:05 p.m. Friday, performed CPR on the unresponsive child, and transported him to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
- Officials said the boy appeared malnourished with bruising, and investigators reported evidence of long-term neglect, physical abuse, and mental abuse.
- The child's mother, Dominique Servant, 33, and her boyfriend, Joey L. Ruffin, 38, were arrested Friday night and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of child endangerment causing death.
- A 10-year-old sibling was interviewed at the Lake County Children's Advocacy Center and admitted to a hospital for treatment due to signs of abuse and malnourishment.
- The coroner's autopsy is not yet finalized, preliminary findings indicate long-term malnourishment and physical abuse, and the suspects are due in court Sunday as prosecutors plan to seek their detention pending trial.