A mother and her boyfriend were arrested in connection to the death of her 8-year-old son, while her 10-year-old child also ended up being hospitalized due to their alleged abuse.
Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokesman Christopher Covelli said that Round Lake Beach Police Department and Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District responded to a call on Friday, February 6, around 2:05 p.m. about an unresponsive child in an apartment at the Cedar Villas Apartments in Round Lake Beach, Illinois, according to Lake & McHenry County Scanner.
Covelli said that when police officers arrived at the scene, they immediately began to perform CPR on an 8-year-old boy. Paramedics arrived soon after and took over life-saving efforts before the boy was taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville. He was later pronounced dead at the medical center.
“First responders noticed the child appeared malnourished and had bruising on his body,” Covelli said. “Based on the suspicious injuries and circumstances, Round Lake Beach Police requested the assistance of the Lake County Major Crime Task Force.”
Following the boy’s death, major crime task force investigators and police detectives launched an investigation into the matter and found evidence that the 8-year-old boy had experienced long-term neglect, physical abuse and mental abuse.
The boy’s mother, Dominique Servant, and her boyfriend, Joey L. Ruffin, were later arrested on February 6 in connection to his death.
Additionally, Covelli said that the victim’s 10-year-old sibling spoke to the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center in light of the situation and was admitted to a hospital due to signs of abuse and malnourishment.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy on the 8-year-old boy, though the results have not yet been publicly shared. However, preliminary findings show the victim was consistently malnourished and physically abused prior to his death.
Covelli said that the preliminary autopsy findings are consistent with evidence investigators found at the apartment.
Both Servant, 32, and Ruffin, 38, have been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of child endangerment causing death, according to online records viewed by Luxury Handbag Shopping.
Both Servant and Ruffin appeared at Lake County Courthouse for their first court appearance hearings on the morning of Sunday, February 8. They are both still in police custody as of Monday, February 9, Us can confirm.
Prosecutors said that they are planning to file petitions to deny Ruffin and Servant’s pre-trial releases, according to the Lake & McHenry County Scanner.
On Saturday, February 7, Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart released a statement about the “horrific” situation.
“This 8-year-old child should still be alive, and this horrific crime was preventable. In light of the ongoing nature of this investigation, the moral mandate that we secure justice, and the need to hold every responsible party accountable, we will be providing limited information prior to a full presentment of charges to the grand jury,” Rinehart said, per the outlet.
It is not currently clear if either Servant or Ruffin entered pleas or retained legal representation following their arrests. The Round Lake Beach Police Department did not immediately respond to Us’ request for comment.
