3 family members in custody after missing 6-year-old North Chicago boy found dead in Indiana, police say
by Sam Borcia January 8, 2022 January 8, 2022
Damari L. Perry, 6, of North Chicago, was last seen on Tuesday possibly in Skokie and was reported missing on Wednesday, police said. | Provided Photo
Police say three family members are in custody after 6-year-old Damari Perry, who went missing from North Chicago several days ago, was found dead in Indiana.
Damari L. Perry, 6, was reported missing around 5 p.m. Wednesday, according to the North Chicago Police Department.
Multiple sources reported Friday evening that Perry had been found dead and his death was classified as a homicide.
North Chicago Police Chief Lazaro Perez confirmed Saturday morning that Perry's body had been recovered.
Perez said that special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and detectives with the North Chicago Police Department located the body near an abandoned house in the 700 block of Van Buren Street in Gary, Indiana.
The Indiana State Police and the Lake County, Indiana Coroner's Office assisted in the recovery.
The Lake County, Indiana Coroner's Office retained custody of the body and will be conducting an autopsy.
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Three adult family members believed to be responsible for Damari's death are in police custody, Perez said.
All juvenile members of the family are in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services.
"Our detectives are working with our law enforcement partners and the Lake County, Illinois State's Attorney's Office to charge those responsible for Damari's death," Perez said.
Family members told police that the boy was last seen around 5-6 p.m. on Tuesday.
On Friday, Perez said that Perry and his 16-year-old sister were allegedly driven to a party in the Skokie area by a female black known only as "Monique" and a male black known as "Wacko" or "Chaos."
Monique was reportedly driving a black Nissan four-door sedan.
Perry's sister described the apartment building where the party took place as possibly being a three-story yellow building with an exposed stairway. The building may be located in or near Skokie.
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Perry's sister told police that she had several drinks at the party and fell asleep.
When she awoke approximately two hours later, Perry and "Wacko" were no longer in the apartment.
Damari's sister was allegedly driven back to North Chicago by "Monique," Perez said.
Tagged: Damari L. Perry, death investigation, fbi, gary, homicide, missing child, missing person, north chicago
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