Donnell Coakley Jr. | Homicide Watch Chicago

UPDATE: Parents, cousin charged in West Ridge beating death of 3-year-old Donnell Coakley Jr.

Michael Lansu — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 22:00:28 -0600

Donnell Coakley / Photo from Cook County Sheriff's office

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

After determining that her viciously abused and malnourished 3-year-old second cousin was dead, a West Ridge woman allegedly went out, bought some marijuana and then smoked it with the child’s parents near the toddler’s battered corpse.

Tylesha Griffin, 22, and Donnell Coakley Sr., 24, allegedly tried to warm their son’s body after Coakley tried to resuscitate Donnell Coakley Jr. Friday night.

But Griffin didn’t call 911 until hours later well after the little boy took his last breath, Cook County prosecutors said.

The couple was charged in Donnell Jr.’s murder, as was 25-year-old Dominique Lott, who allegedly admitted to whipping the child with her hand, belt and an electrical cord.

Lott, who had been living with Griffin and Coakley in the 6500 block of North Seeley Avenue, told police she’d also put her foot down on the child when hitting him and beat him for not knowing his numbers or the alphabet, Assistant State’s Attorney Alexandra Molesky said.

Lott, who had bought pot for the couple to smoke before the authorities were called, said Griffin would often ask her to beat Donnell Jr., Molesky said.

Lott allegedly watched Griffin beat Donnell Jr. two to three times a day and noticed that he stopped eating a week before his death, Molesky said.

Donnell Jr. had over 100 injuries on his back, buttocks, arm, legs, chest, lips and head.

His front tooth was chipped and he had injuries on his wrist consistent with being bound, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Portions of the boy’s lower body exhibited “trauma and his left arm had a gaping wound with exposed rotting muscle and skin, Molesky said.

Tylesha Griffin / Photo from Chicago Police

Had he been alive, that arm would likely be amputated, Molesky said.

Donnell Jr. had patches of hair missing on his head, bruising on the tips of his fingers and a missing fingernail, Molesky said.

On Griffin’s cellphone officers allegedly found a picture of a naked Donnell Jr. standing in his living room with injuries on his legs and back.

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.

Lott also previously hit Donnell Jr.’s 4-year-old sibling with a stick and belt for misbehaving, Molesky said.

Griffin was ordered held without bond on Monday.

On Wednesday, Judge Donald Panarese Jr. also ordered Lott held without bond.

Coakley was held in lieu of $500,000 bond earlier this week.

Mother charged with murder in death of 3-year-old Donnell Coakley

LeeAnn Shelton — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 16:59:23 -0600

Tylesha Griffin / Photo from Chicago Police

Tylesha G. Griffin ordered held without bond Monday in the death of her 3-year-old son at their West Ridge home.

Donnell Coakley Jr.'s parents found him unresponsive in his bed at their home in the 6500 block of North Seeley Avenue about 8:40 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

Donnell was taken to Presence Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, where he died about an hour later, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Earlier that day, Donnell's parents left the boy with a relative to attend a hearing with his father's parole officer, a police source said.

When the parents returned home, they found the boy lying in bed in his own vomit, according to a police report, which noted the parents cleaned the toddler and put him back to bed.

When the parents later found the boy unresponsive they called authorities, according to the police report.

Responding officers found wounds on Donnell's wrists consistent with being bound, according to the police report, which also noted torso wounds in various stages of healing.

When officers asked Griffin about the injuries she allegedly said that she disciplined the boy with a belt, according to the police report.

A Saturday autopsy was inconclusive pending further studies, but police announced Sunday that an investigation determined Griffin was responsible for Donnell's injuries and she was charged with first-degree murder.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services investigated allegations of neglect against both the boy’s parents, said department spokeswoman Karen Hawkins.

Donnell’s two siblings were taken into protective custody under a DCFS-monitored safety plan, Hawkins said.

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

On Monday, Griffin was ordered held without bond Monday and will be back in court Nov. 26, according to the Cook County sheriff's office.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

WEEK IN REVIEW: 12 murdered throughout Chicago

Michael Lansu — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 09:00:50 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Twelve people were murdered throughout Chicago last week.

Six of the slayings happened over the weekend, when at least 11 other people were wounded by gunfire.

The most recent killing happened in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood when 44-year-old Luis Zuniga was shot in the 2800 block of North Lotus Avenue about 2:20 p.m., authorities said.

Family members said he had pulled up to his driveway after returning home from church and was getting out of his white minivan when someone in a parked vehicle fired shots. Police said the shooter then drove off.

In the River North neighborhood, 29-year-old Willis Jefferson was stabbed in the back multiple times and police found him in the 800 block of North Orleans Street about 2:20 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Jefferson, of the 7200 block of South Vincennes Avenue, later died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Saturday, 21-year-old Rogelio Margil was with a group in the 1600 block of North Tripp Avenue in the Humboldt Park community when an argument started and an alleged gang member shot Margil in the head about 7:30 p.m., authorities said.

Margil, of the 1400 block of North Kildare Avenue, was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died at 3:22 p.m. Sunday, according to the medical examiner's office.

In the Chatham neighborhood, police found 18-year-old Johnathan Cartwright shot in the 800 block of East 87th Place about 5:05 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Cartwright, whose home address was not immediately available, was dead at the scene, according to the medical examiner's office.

On Friday, 15-year-old Deon Gilbert was walking in the 10400 block of South Bensley Avenue in the South Deering community when a dark minivan pulled up and somebody inside opened fire about 10:45 p.m., authorities said.

Gilbert, of the 8100 block of South Evans Avenue, was shot in the abdomen area and later died at University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital, authorities said.

In the West Ridge neighborhood, 3-year-old Donnell Coakley Jr. was found unresponsive in his bed in the 6500 block of North Seeley Avenue about 8:40 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

Donnell was taken to Presence Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, where he died about an hour later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Donnell's parents, Donnell Coakley Sr., 24, and Tylesha G. Griffin, 22, were each charged with first-degree murder in the boy's death. Dominique Lott, a 25-year-old cousin who lived in the home, was also charged in the Donnell's death for allegedly smoking marijuana near the child's corpse, prosecutors said.

In the South Shore neighborhood, police found 22-year-old Lydell Lynch shot multiple times in a doorway of a second-floor apartment in the 7300 block of South Blackstone Avenue about 1 a.m. Friday, authorities said.

Lynch, who lived in the building, died at Jackson Park Hospital about an hour later, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Thursday, 39-year-old Joseph Lewis was outside in the 7900 block of South Essex Avenue when somebody opened fire about 2:40 a.m., authorities said.

Lewis, of the 7600 block of South Essex Avenue, was struck by several bullets and friends drove him to South Shore Hospital, where he died less than an hour later, authorities said.

On Wednesday, 25-year-old Gregory D. McKinney was shot in the back and chest in the 100 block of South Pulaski Road in the West Garfield Park community about 5 p.m., authorities said.

McKinney, of the 4000 block of West Wilcox Street, died about 45 minutes later at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Tuesday, police found 36-year-old Darrell Tolbert shot in the head and chest in the 600 block of North Avers Avenue in the East Garfield Park neighborhood at 7:17 p.m., authorities said.

Tolbert, of the 800 block of West 78th Street, died at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On Monday, 33-year-old Doug A. Chambliss was in the 700 block of South Karlov Avenue in the West Garfield Park neighborhood when two males walked up and opened fire at 9:07 a.m., authorities said.

Chambliss, who lived on the block, was shot in the back and leg and died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, authorities said.

The killing started when 48-year-old Veronica Wilson fatally stabbed her boyfriend, Andrew Brown, during an argument in the 3000 block of East Cheltenham Place about 12:20 a.m. Monday, prosecutors said.

The exchange started in their home about two blocks away when Brown accused Wilson of cheating, said Assistant State’s Attorney Lashunda Cooperwood.

Brown is being held on $800,000 bond.

Additionally, 61-year-old James Watson died Wednesday after he was shot in a lounge in the 700 block of East 83rd Street in the Chatham neighborhood after an argument erupted about 1:50 a.m. Aug. 2, authorities said.

An autopsy confirmed Watson, of the 7300 block of South Union Avenue, died from being shot multiple times and the death was ruled a homicide, according to the medical examiner's office.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 381 Chicago deaths in 2014 a homicide — including 14 people killed by police.

Chicago Police, which counts murders different by following federal guidelines, have ruled some of those homicides as involuntary manslaughter, justified self-defense or accidents.