Peoria Standard

April 25, 2024, Peoria, IL – Stephanie L. Jones, 37, has been sentenced to 100 years in prison for the murder of her eight-year-old son, Navin Jones, who was starved to death by his parents. Navin's tragic story revealed the extent of his suffering, as he was severely malnourished, weighed only 30lbs, and bore numerous injuries on his body, including ligature marks from being tied up. His living conditions were deplorable, with a bare room reeking of urine and feces, and a note on the door instructing not to feed or let him out.

The abuse inflicted on Navin was not only physical but also emotional, as indicated by text messages between Jones and the child's father, Brandon Walker. While Jones pleaded guilty to First Degree Murder, Walker faced a jury trial and was ultimately sentenced to natural life in prison in February.

During the sentencing hearing, Jones cited mental illness as a contributing factor to the tragic events and expressed remorse. However, Judge John Vespa dismissed her claims, condemning her actions by stating, "It wasn’t bad enough you starved him to death. You had to beat him, too." Jones has been mandated to serve the full 100-year sentence as per statute.

This case serves as a harrowing reminder of the importance of protecting the most vulnerable members of society and the grave consequences of neglect and abuse.