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A tragic case has unfolded in Round Lake Beach, Illinois, where a mother and her boyfriend face serious charges following the death of her 8-year-old son. Accused of murder and child endangerment, the pair have been taken into custody as authorities unravel a heartbreaking tale of neglect and abuse.
On Friday, police and emergency responders were summoned to a residence on the 1900 block of Cedar Lake Road. There, they discovered the young boy, unresponsive and exhibiting signs of severe malnourishment alongside visible bruising. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, the child was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. His name has been withheld from the public.
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In the wake of this discovery, investigators from the Task Force and Round Lake Beach Detectives uncovered disturbing evidence. Their findings suggested the child had endured prolonged neglect and abuse, both physical and mental. This grim revelation was further supported by the testimony of the boy’s 10-year-old sibling. During an interview at the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center, the sibling revealed similar signs of abuse and was subsequently admitted to a healthcare facility for treatment.
As a result of these findings, law enforcement officials have arrested the boy’s mother, 33-year-old Dominique Servant, along with her boyfriend, 38-year-old Joey L. Ruffin. The community remains in shock as details of this harrowing case continue to emerge, casting a spotlight on the dire consequences of unchecked domestic abuse.
“During the investigation, Task Force Investigators and Round Lake Beach Detectives found evidence that the child had been subject to long-term neglect, physical abuse, and mental abuse,” a news release from police read in part. “A ten-year old sibling of the victim was interviewed at the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center and subsequently admitted to a hospital due to signs of abuse and malnourishment.”
Round Lake Beach police arrested the boy’s mother Dominique Servant, 33, and her boyfriend Joey L. Ruffin, 38, Friday night, officials said.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office’s autopsy results of the 8-year-old boy have not been finalized, but police said preliminary findings showed the boy had long-term malnourishment and physical abuse.
Servant and Ruffin have both been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of child endangerment causing death, police said.
The suspects are both due in court Sunday.
Round Lake Beach Police Department Chief Ryan Rodriguez issued the following statement:
“Our community is grieving.
“The tragic loss of an eight-year-old child has shaken us to our core. There are simply no words that can fully capture the heartbreak we feel as parents, neighbors, friends, and as a police department. When a precious child is taken from us in such a way, it is natural to feel anger. It is natural to feel confusion. It is natural to ask why.
“I share in that grief. In moments like this, we must come together, not apart. We must support one another.
“During difficult times such as these, I personally lean on my faith and pray for strength, understanding, and comfort. I also recognize that Round Lake Beach is a community made up of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs. Each of us seeks peace and healing in our own way. I encourage everyone to find that source of peace, whether through faith, family, reflection, or community support, and to hold tightly to it in the days ahead.
“There are two groups I consider our most precious and most vulnerable: our children and our seniors. They represent both our future and our foundation. As a department, we go to great lengths to engage with, protect, and support these members of our community. We invest in programs, outreach, education, and visibility because safeguarding them is not just part of our job – it is our calling.
“I am grateful to all of those who rushed to the scene and who continue to work tirelessly to ensure a thorough and meticulous investigation to result in the fullest prosecution under the law as possible.
“On behalf of our community, Mayor Nickles and I recognize and thank our law enforcement partners and State’s Attorney Rinehart’s Office for their professionalism, interagency collaboration, and diligence in managing this exceptionally challenging situation.
“Above all, let us honor this young life by recommitting ourselves to unity, protection, purpose, and love for one another.
“Beyond our professional responsibility, the men and women of the Round Lake Beach Police Department stand with you as fellow members of this grieving community. May we find peace. May we find strength. And may we never lose sight of what matters most.”
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