May 17, 2008 7:02 pm US/Central
Caretakers Could Face Murder Charge
13-year-old With Cerebral Palsy Died By Neglect Thursday
CHICAGO (Sun-Times Media Wire) ―
Charges for the 29-year-old mother and two caretakers of a 13-year-old boy with cerebral palsy who died by neglect Thursday are expected to be upgraded to first-degree murder, police say. The three women remain in custody Saturday.
Jaylen Brown, 13, of 8542 S. Oglesby Ave. was pronounced dead at La Rabida Children's Hospital at 10:05 a.m. Thursday, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.
An autopsy Friday ruled Jaylen died of sepsis and decubitus ulcers caused by neglect, with a secondary cause of death as cerebral palsy. His death has been ruled a homicide, the medical examiner's office said.
Brown's mother, Kesheia Phillips, of the Oglesby address; Morris Lee Brinkley, 73, of the 9100 block of South Paulina Street; and Loren Brown, 49, of Calumet City, are expected to be charged with first-degree murder, police News Affairs Officer JoAnn Taylor said. Charges have not yet been filed Saturday night.
The three women were previously charged for criminal neglect of a person with a disability and for violating reporting provisions on April 9, Taylor said.
DCFS is investigating Jaylen's death, and two other children living in the boy's home have been placed in the care of a relative, spokesman Kendall Marlowe said.
Between 2003 and 2006, Jaylen's mother received "supportive services" from DCFS, Marlowe said.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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