100 Years in Prison Given to Mom Who Starved Son To Death

April 25, 2024, Peoria, IL- Today, Stephanie L. Jones, 37, received the maximum sentence of her plea agreement of 100 years in prison in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the murder of her eight-year-old son, Navin Jones. Navin had been starved to death by his parents. He was severely malnourished and weighed only 30lbs. His body was covered with injuries, including blunt force injuries to his face, front and back of his body, arms, and legs. Navin also had ligature marks on his wrists and waist where he had been tied up. His bedroom was furnished with only a dresser and a bed without sheets or blankets, and he had only one toy. The room also reeked of urine, and feces were found in his closet. The bedroom door had been tied shut so he couldn't get out, and a note on the door said not to feed or let him out. Navin's abuse was documented through text messages between Jones and the child's father, Brandon Walker. In December, Jones pled guilty to one count of First Degree Murder. Walker proceeded to a jury trial where he was convicted and sentenced to natural life in prison in February.

During the hearing, Jones claimed she had a mental illness and that she was sorry for what had happened. Discounting those statements, Judge John Vespa stated, "It wasn't bad enough you starved him to death. You had to beat him, too." Per statute, Jones will have to serve 100% of that sentence.

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