A Michigan woman and her boyfriend have been charged with murder and child abuse after what prosecutors described the “horrific” abuse led to a 6-year-old boy’s death.
Giovanni “Chulo” Jennings died “all day” on July 30 in front of his mother’s boyfriend Daniel Giacchina who did not seek help, his younger sibling told detectives.
When the boy’s mother Elaina Jennings called 911 to report an unconscious child, Chulo couldn’t be saved: he suffered a perforated abdomen and blunt force trauma injuries indicative of a “lengthy period of confinement and abuse.”
“We have spent over 100 hours reviewing extremely disturbing videos and photos, as well as text messages and Facebook chats describing the horrific things that happened to this 6-year-old boy,” Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said.
“What we found can only be described as horrific.”
The victim had lacerations and bruising all over his body, including inside his mouth.
He had a bloated abdomen and a BB gun injury. Detectives determined he was confined inside a pen, slept on a wooden board, denied from looking outside, drink or even urinate.
“This is one of the worst cases we’ve seen. It was clear from the evidence that we saw that there was a period of abuse that led to Chulo’s death.”
