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CHICAGO, IL – The father of Navin Jones, an 8-year-old boy who died of severe malnutrition and abuse in 2022, was found guilty of first-degree murder Friday after a weeklong trial that detailed the abuse and shed light on how the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) did not act to remove the child from his parent’s care.

Brandon Walker, 42, was sentenced to life in prison after the jury found him guilty of murdering Navin in a “brutal and heinous manner, indicative of wanton cruelty.”

Navin weighed only 30 pounds when his mother, Stephanie Jones, found him unresponsive in his room in March 2022. Jones, 37, pleaded guilty to murder and will be sentenced on April 25 where she faces up to 100 years in prison.

Jurors were shown graphic photos of Navin’s skeleton body with cuts, bruises and scars, as well as the horrific conditions he lived in including a desolate bedroom littered with feces. Other images showed how Navin progressively grew skinnier in the final 18 months of his life.

The trial also revealed how a DCFS investigator believed she didn’t have the authority to remove the boy from his parent’s home about a month before he died, even though she observed him to be sickly. Prosecutors say if she did her job, Navin may still be alive.

The prosecutor also placed blame on Navin’s parents for trying to deceive the state agency. Walker’s conviction represents the latest failure of DCFS to care for some of the state’s most vulnerable residents and have those lapses showcased during a criminal trial. DCFS has repeatedly come under sharp criticism for failing to intercede to protect children at risk. In October, in another case, a Lake County judge found one of two former DCFS employees guilty of ignoring warning signs of abuse of another child who died, 5-year-old A.J. Freund.

Navin and his older brother were temporarily living with his parents for several months when the boy died on March 29, 2022. Their grandmother and guardian, Laura Walker, attempted to remove them from her son’s home and had sought help from the police and DCFS, according to her testimony.

The pathologist who performed Navin’s autopsy testified that the boy died from severe malnutrition and abuse. The state further proved the neglect and abuse that occurred in the home by showing how there were no doorknobs on Navin’s door, instead a rope was used to close the door. Medical experts testified there were ligature marks on his wrists, indicating he was tied up.

Police also described a “putrid” smell in a closet in his room, in which they found feces smeared on the walls. A note was also on Navin’s door telling the older brother to not let Navin out or provide him with any food.

The problem with DCFS

DCFS had been involved in Navin’s life since he was an infant when he tested positive for opiates and was put under the agency’s custody. Four years later, Laura Walker gained permanent guardianship.

During the summer of 2021, Laura took a short trip to visit her ailing mother in Florida and planned to leave Navin with his parents for 10 days. When she returned to Illinois, she said her son and Jones refused to return Navin. She subsequently contacted Peoria police and DCFS, but the boy remained with his parents.

DCFS made several attempts to visit the children, but it wasn’t until February 2022 when DCFS investigator Kathy Harvey visited the home and observed Navin to be gaunt, sickly and “very thin,” according to her testimony. Harvey testified she did not believe at the time she had the authority to help Navin get medical care.

“I was afraid for his health,” Laura Walker testified, explaining why she decided to turn over temporary guardianship to her son. “I was afraid there was something critically wrong. The caseworker insisted this was the only way to get medical attention and I signed it and sent it.”

Harvey said she received the guardianship paperwork from Laura Walker in the mail on March 29, 2022, the day Navin died.

Charles Golbert, the Cook County Public Guardian, told Illinois Answers that he believes “Harvey was seriously wrong in her initial assessment.” Golbert’s office represents more than 7,000 children in Cook County and advocates for their best interests.

“That erroneous belief reflects a huge failure of training at DCFS, or judgment, or lack of appropriate supervision, or perhaps a combination,” he wrote in an email. He added if there are concerns about a child’s health, the agency can take protective custody of a child for up to two days without going to an emergency room.

He also noted that the agency’s investigators have caseloads that far exceed national rates with DCFS’s investigator vacancy rate at more than 20%.

An Illinois Answers Project investigation last year found that the state agency has been plagued with issues, including riding abuse and neglect complaints and a number of children who died while in the agency’s care.

In January, the agency’s Office of Inspector General published a report that found there were 171 child deaths involving DCFS in the fiscal year 2022 – the year Navin died. A September state audit showed how the agency repeatedly failed to follow state laws aimed at protecting children from abuse and neglect.

The Dinizulu Law Group is here to help you and your loved ones

When DCFS oversteps its bounds, our seasoned DCFS lawyers at the Dinizulu Law Group are there to protect the rights of parents and caregivers. Please call us as soon as possible if your family is under investigation. This is not an admission of guilt or wrongdoing. It is simply a sign that you take your family’s future seriously.

The most important thing is to act swiftly in contacting a DCFS lawyer. Even if you have done nothing wrong, mistakes in the administrative or legal procedures could result in consequences for you and your family.

The dedicated team at the Dinizulu Law Group has extensive experience with DCFS, domestic violence and family law cases. We are prepared to stick with you as long as it takes to get you the justice you deserve. Fill out this form or call us at (312) 384-1920 for a consultation today!

CHICAGO, IL – Labor and childbirth rarely go exactly as parents hope when they’re making a birth plan. Laboring moms may ask for medication when they planned a drug-free birth or a baby’s position or other circumstances may require a C-section when a woman planned a vaginal delivery. Fortunately, the majority of childbirths have a happy ending, but sadly, in some circumstances, labor, or delivery goes so badly that it ends in catastrophe rather than a happily-ever-after. When this occurs due to the negligence of a doctor or medical professional, parents are entitled to compensation for the tragedy.

What are Catastrophic Birth Injuries?

Approximately one in every 33 babies born in the U.S. suffer a birth injury. Fortunately, the majority of birth injuries are minor—such as forceps bruises—and they resolve quickly. Sadly, in rare circumstances, the results of birth injury are catastrophic for the infant. Examples of catastrophic injuries include:

• Cerebral Palsy
• Brachial Plexus Palsy
• Brain damage
• Paraplegia, quadriplegia, partial paralysis
• Vision or hearing loss
• Amputation
• Sepsis
• Seizure disorders
• Neurocognitive disorders
• Coma
• Vegetative state
• Infant death

Whether the injury is immediately apparent or discovered in the months following delivery, parents may file a birth injury lawsuit against the negligent medical professionals responsible for the catastrophic injury.

Early Signs of Birth Injuries

Depending on the circumstances and the type of injury, parents and the labor and delivery staff may immediately know that a catastrophic injury occurred or the full extent of the injury may not reveal itself until later. Some signs of a birth injury to look for during the minutes and hours after birth include:

• Bruises, abrasions, or swelling on an infant’s face or head
• Delayed first breath or requiring CPR or a breathing tube after delivery
• Limpness and loose arms
• Stiffness and/or seizures during the early hours after birth

If your newborn exhibits any of the above signs, alert a doctor immediately. Early treatment may minimize the damage from some types of birth injuries.

Common Causes of Catastrophic Birth Injuries

The vast majority of birth injuries result from a natural birth complication. However, when a doctor doesn’t recognize the complication, fails to address it promptly, or provides incorrect or inadequate treatment, the doctor or the hospital that employs the doctor may be held liable for the injuries. The most common birth events that result in a catastrophic birth injury include:

• Umbilical cord prolapse
• Uterine rupture
• Shoulder Dystocia, or baby trapped in the birth canal by a shoulder caught against the mother’s pelvic bone
• Macrosomia, or baby too large for the birth canal
• Chorioamnionitis: A dangerous infection now linked to cerebral palsy

If a doctor fails to properly diagnose and treat these and other complications in a timely manner the result may be a catastrophic injury to the child.

What Compensation Can I Get From a Catastrophic Birth Injury Lawsuit?

A medical professional must provide the highest standards of care to a patient. If a doctor fails to treat the patient the way another reasonable medical professional would in the same circumstances, they’ve committed medical malpractice and are liable in a catastrophic birth injury lawsuit.

With the help of a Chicago, Illinois birth injury attorney, a successful lawsuit can bring compensation for the following damages:

• Lifelong medical expenses
• Permanent disability expenses for home healthcare, special education, and other needs
• Lost income for cases in which parents must reduce hours, miss work days, or leave a job to care for a child with a disability
• Pain and suffering on the child’s part
• Mental anguish on the parent’s part
• Diminished life quality

While monetary compensation can’t undo a birth injury, it can help the parents access the best medical care so the baby can recover to the fullest extent possible or improve the quality of life for the child going forward.

Contact a Wrongful Death Lawyer in Chicago, Illinois

If your infant died during birth, you pay the greatest possible cost in your grief. A wrongful death claim may result in changes that prevent another family from experiencing the same tragedy. If your child lived you may now be faced with an impossible task: providing for a child with a catastrophic injury that requires a lifetime of nursing care. As lawyers with extensive experience in birth injury claims, we will help your family determine the full value of your claim and work relentlessly to recover the damages you need to take care of your child and your family.

Contact the Dinizulu Law Group today by filling out this form or calling (312) 384-1920 for an initial consultation.

CHICAGO, IL – Dementia is a general term that refers to severe memory loss and problems with thinking, behavior and social skills that interfere with daily life. Dementia is a neurological condition that affects one in seven adults over age 71, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia and makes up 60 percent to 80 percent of dementia cases, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most cases of Alzheimer’s occur when people reach their 70s and 80s.

Although Alzheimer’s disease accounts for many dementia cases, other types of dementia are distinct from Alzheimer’s disease, including vascular dementia and Lewy body dementia. Alzheimer’s disease differs from other diseases involving dementia when it comes to its symptoms, effect on the brain, and treatments.

Alzheimer’s Disease 

The most prevalent type of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, which is the fifth-leading cause of death for adults 65 and over. The illness is marked by difficulty remembering recent events. People with Alzheimer’s can usually recall the past, but have trouble remembering what transpired recently. An individual with Alzheimer’s disease may be able to tell you about their childhood in detail, but not about the previous day’s events. As the condition progresses, people can have challenges walking and talking, and may experience personality changes.

Physicians believe that a buildup of proteins in the brain causes Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease degrades neurons and their connections in parts of the brain involved in memory, and lesions form in the brain, preventing those affected from storing new memories. As the disease progresses, the brain shrinks. To treat Alzheimer’s, doctors prescribe medicine targeting the lesions in the brain.

In some cases, people can inherit a genetic predisposition for the condition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a parent with Alzheimer’s increases a person’s risk by between 10 percent and 30 percent. However, the Alzheimer’s Society reports that the genetic link is more robust in early-onset Alzheimer’s, where adults show symptoms beginning in their 60s.

Lewy Body Dementia

After Alzheimer’s, Lewy body dementia (LBD) is the second most common type of dementia; people with LBD often also have Alzheimer’s. LBD impairs areas of the brain involved in problem-solving and reasoning and is related to Parkinson’s disease, a neurological disorder affecting movement.

Symptoms of LBD include:

• Disruption in rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep, where most dreaming occurs.
• Poor regulation of body functions due to problems with the autonomic nervous system.
• Movement difficulties, such as rigid muscles and slow movement.
• Visual hallucinations.
• Cognitive issues, such as confusion, diminished attention, and memory loss.

In the brain, an abnormal buildup of proteins, known as Lewy bodies, causes LBD. These proteins are related to Parkinson’s. People with LBD also have the same kind of brain lesions as those with Alzheimer’s.

When individuals receive an LBD diagnosis, physicians often prescribe medications for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Like Alzheimer’s, advanced age is the most significant predictor of LBD. However, a stroke increases a person’s risk of developing the disease.

Vascular Dementia

Although vascular dementia shares symptoms with Alzheimer’s disease, such as memory loss, there are significant distinctions. The characteristic symptom of vascular dementia is slow speaking and thinking, as well as trouble with problem-solving.

Vascular dementia can happen when a stroke blocks a blood vessel in the brain. In many cases, more strokes follow, and the symptoms become more severe with each additional stroke.

Conditions that harm blood vessels and impair circulation, preventing oxygen and nutrients from reaching the brain, can also cause vascular dementia, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Treating vascular dementia typically encompasses treating the underlying conditions. For example, a person with hypertension might focus on taking steps to lower their blood pressure.

People who have vascular dementia tend to experience symptoms earlier than those with Alzheimer’s, as the onset of vascular dementia commonly happens between ages 60 and 75.

Other Types of Dementia

In addition to Alzheimer’s, LBD, and vascular dementia, many other types of dementia exist, including:

• Frontotemporal dementia: Impairs the front and sides of the brain. People with frontotemporal dementia tend to develop the disease younger than those with other forms of dementia. The average age of onset is between 45 and 65.
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease: Occurs when proteins infect the brain and cause problems with cognition, memory, balance, speech, vision, and mobility. Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease is fatal, with most people passing away within a year of diagnosis.
• Huntington’s disease: A genetic condition that causes dementia. People can inherit Huntington’s from parents with the disease.

There are many organizations you can reach out to for support and to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders, such as the Alzheimer’s Assocation or the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute.

CHICAGO, IL – Sexual abuse is a heinous crime that has long-lasting effects on the victim. The impact of such abuse is both physical and emotional and can cause severe mental trauma in the long run.

What is Sexual Abuse? 

The law clearly defines sexual abuse as any sexual act performed against another person without their consent. This ranges from inappropriate touching to child molestation to rape. In Illinois, sexual abuse and assault are crimes punishable by jail or prison time, fines, mandatory sex offender registration and other penalties.

Examples of Sexual Abuse

Some examples of sexual abuse include:

• Inappropriate touching includes things like fondling, groping or sexually touching another person against their will.
• Sexual harassment which includes unwanted sexual comments, advances, touching and indirect actions leading to a hostile work environment.
• Molestation/child molestation involving sexual advances or touching.
• Sexual assault that includes anyone who engages in sexual activity with another person through force (including the use of a deadly weapon) or the threat of force has committed sexual assault.
• Sexual battery which is making sexual contact with another person through force/threat of force, by using a deadly weapon or when the victim is mentally disabled.
• Rape which constitutes sexual intercourse without the consent of the other person or when a victim is unable to give consent.
• Statutory rape which is sexual intercourse without consent.

Sexual Violence Statistics

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the following:

• Sexual violence is common. Over 1 in 2 women and almost 1 in 3 men have experienced sexual violence involving physical contact during their lifetimes. 1 in 4 women and about 1 in 26 men have experienced completed or attempted rape. 1 in 3 women and about 1 in 9 men experienced sexual harassment in a public place.
• Sexual violence starts early. More than 4 in 5 female rape survivors reported that they were first raped before age 25, and almost half were first raped as a minor (i.e., before age 18). Nearly 8 in 10 male rape survivors reported that they were made to penetrate someone before age 25, and about 4 in 10 were first made to penetrate as a minor.
• Sexual violence disproportionately affects some age groups. Women and racial and ethnic minority groups experience a higher burden of sexual violence. For example, more than 2 in 5 non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native and non-Hispanic multiracial women were raped in their lifetime.
• Sexual violence is costly. Recent estimates put the lifetime cost of rape at $122,461 per survivor, including medical costs, lost productivity, criminal justice activities and other costs.

What are the Long-Term Effects of Sexual Violence?

There are various long-term physical effects that can happen after sexual violence has taken place. One of the most immediate and noticeable effects of sexual abuse is the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) which can cause long-term damage to the body if left untreated. Apart from STDs, as a result of the physical trauma, sexual abuse victims are also at risk of increased:

1. Chronic pain manifests as headaches, muscle aches and joint pain. These symptoms can be exacerbated by stress and anxiety making them difficult to manage.
2. Gastrointestinal issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), constipation and diarrhea. These issues can be triggered by anxiety and stress, which can be common after experiencing trauma.
3. Sexual dysfunction or hypersexuality.
4. Substance abuse can be a dangerous cycle and exacerbate mental health issues and lead to physical harm.
5. Chronic illnesses such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and autoimmune disorders. While the links between trauma and chronic illness are not fully understood, it is important to recognize the impact that sexual abuse can have on physical health.

What are the Long-Term Emotional and Mental Effects?

Sexual abuse can have profound and long-lasting effects on a person’s emotional well-being. The trauma caused by sexual abuse can stay with a person for years or even a lifetime. A victim of sexual abuse may experience the following:

1. Difficulty with trusting people which can manifest in a variety of ways, such as difficulty with intimate relationships or reluctance to share personal information with others. Survivors may struggle with feelings of betrayal and may worry about the potential for further abuse.
2. Depression, anxiety and other mood disorders are common among survivors. These symptoms can be difficult to manage and may last long after the abuse has ended.
3. Guilt and shame which can lead to a sense of worthlessness and may cause survivors to withdraw from social interactions.
4. Substance abuse is a way many survivors self-medicate to cope with the overwhelming emotions caused by the abuse.
5. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Survivors of sexual abuse are a high risk of developing PTSD. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and intense anxiety.

Importance of Hiring a Compassionate Sexual Abuse Attorney in Chicago, Illinois

A compassionate sexual abuse attorney can help you fight for justice and compensation. They understand the long-term effects of sexual abuse and can help you navigate the legal system. A compassionate attorney will also provide you with the emotional support needed to heal from the trauma.

The idea of standing up to your abuser may be intimidating or even downright frightening. At the Dinizulu Law Group, we understand this. When you put our experienced, aggressive, and powerful Chicago, Illinois sexual abuse attorneys on your side, you have an entire team of dedicated advocates fighting for you. Fill out this form or call us at (312) 384-1920 for a free consultation.