After two delays, including one for health reasons, the North Chicago woman charged in her son’s killing and the burning of his body formally entered a not guilty plea, according to court records.
Jannie Perry, 38, is facing a 19-count felony indictment in the death of her son, Damari, who authorities say died on his sixth birthday Dec. 30 after being forced to remain in a cold shower for a prolonged period of time. Authorities initially said the boy had died the day before his birthday.
The child’s brother, Jeremiah, 20, has also been charged in the boy’s death. Perry was arraigned earlier this month.
His mother had been set to make her initial court two previous times, including Monday. At that hearing, though, attorneys said Jannie Perry was hospitalized for a reason that was not disclosed in court.
According to Lake County jail records, Jannie Perry was taken by ambulance to the hospital on Feb. 5 and returned to the jail on Feb. 12. She was arraigned Thursday, according to court records.
Both Perry and her son have been charged by a Lake County grand jury with multiple felony counts, including first-degree murder, aggravated battery, concealing a homicide and dismembering a corpse. Jannie Perry faces additional counts for failing to give information to police about a child and failing to report the death of a child.
Lake County prosecutors have said they intend to seek enhanced sentences up to life in prison in the event of convictions for both Perrys, citing the brutal and heinous nature of the alleged murder.
Authorities said the boy was kept in the cold shower for a prolonged period of time as a punishment for misbehavior and that he died as a result of hypothermia.
About a week later, the family reported the child had gone missing, but authorities quickly focused attention on Jannie Perry and her oldest son. After questioning the family, police went to a neighborhood in Gary, Indiana, where they recovered the youth’s burned body wrapped in a garbage bag.
Jannie Perry is being held in lieu of $5 million bail. She is scheduled to appear in court on March 3.
