Illinois Mother Pleads Guilty in 2021 Death of 6-Year-Old After Alleged Cold-Shower Punishment

Jannie Perry, 42, has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the December 2021 death of her 6-year-old son, Damari Perry, authorities said. Perry entered the plea last week and is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 30, 2026, in Lake County, Illinois.

Case Details

According to prosecutors, Perry and her older son, Jeremiah Perry, now 24, punished Damari by placing him in a cold shower for a prolonged period. Prosecutors say that treatment led to the child’s death and that evidence suggests the family later attempted to conceal the crime, including by burning the child’s remains.

When charges were initially announced in February 2022, both Jannie and Jeremiah faced an extensive indictment that included multiple counts of murder and a range of related offenses, such as aggravated battery of a child, concealment of a homicidal death, abuse of a corpse and obstructing justice. Under a plea agreement reached this month, prosecutors agreed to drop additional counts in exchange for Perry’s guilty plea to first-degree murder; the deal reportedly caps her sentence at no more than 45 years. It is not publicly clear which specific charges were dismissed.

Prosecutors' Statement

Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart described the actions as a calculated plan against a small child, calling the conduct 'exceptionally brutal and heinous' and noting that the defendants' failure to seek medical attention demonstrated intent to end Damari's life.

Jeremiah Perry remains charged in connection with his younger brother's death and is scheduled to stand trial beginning Feb. 9, 2026. Reports indicate another child in the family was charged as a juvenile in relation to the case.

Perry is a mother of seven. Records show she previously sought to regain custody of Damari in 2017, after he had been placed in the Illinois foster-care system following his birth in 2015.

News outlets covering the case include The Chicago Tribune and PEOPLE. Lake County prosecutors have provided public statements about the severity of the case; spokespersons did not immediately respond to all requests for comment about which charges were dismissed as part of the plea deal.

What Happens Next

Jannie Perry will be sentenced on Jan. 30, 2026. The prosecution will present its case against Jeremiah Perry at trial starting Feb. 9, 2026, in Lake County, and additional legal proceedings may follow depending on the outcome of that trial.