Mother Charged With Murder in Death of 3-Year-Old Son

Tylesha G. Griffin faces one count of first-degree murder

A 22-year-old woman was charged Sunday in the death of her 3-year-old son Friday at their West Ridge home.

Tylesha G. Griffin faces one count of first-degree murder, a statement from Chicago Police said. A police source confirmed the boy was her son, Donnell Coakley.

His parents found him unresponsive in his bed about 8:40 p.m. Friday at their home in the 6500 block of North Seeley, authorities said at the time.

He was taken to Presence Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, where he was pronounced dead at 9:55 p.m., the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. An autopsy performed Saturday was inconclusive pending further studies.

Earlier in the day, Griffin and Donnell’s father left the boy in a relative’s care while they attended the father’s appointment with his parole officer, according to a police source.

When the parents returned home, the boy was found lying in bed in his own vomit, a police report said. The parents cleaned the toddler up and put him back to bed, but found him unresponsive some time later and called authorities.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found wounds on Donnell consistent with the boy’s wrists being bound, the police report said.

The boy also had wounds to his torso, which were in various stages of healing, the report said. When officers asked Griffin about the nature of the injuries, she allegedly said he was disciplined with a belt from time to time.

An investigation determined Griffin was responsible for Donnell’s fatal injuries, police said in the statement.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services investigated allegations of neglect by the boy’s mother and father, spokesman Karen Hawkins said. Donnell’s two siblings have been taken into protective custody under a DCFS-monitored safety plan.

The agency had previous contact with the mother in 2011, also for allegations of neglect.

Copyright Chicago Sun-Times
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