AMERICA

FILMED CHILD ABUSE: Eight-year-old boy from Chicago dies after months of torture at home! (VIDEO)

by Serbian Times10. February 2026.10. February 2026.

An eight-year-old boy, Markel Pierce, has died in Round Lake Beach, Illinois, following prolonged abuse and neglect in his family home, the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office reported, according to ABC7 Chicago.

His mother, Dominique Servant (33), and her partner, Joey Ruffin (38), have been charged with murder and are being held in custody pending trial. They face first-degree murder charges and charges of child endangerment resulting in death.

The investigation revealed that the boy suffered physical abuse for at least 20 months. Police also discovered video recordings showing Ruffin filming himself while “punishing” the child. The judge described their behavior as “monstrous.”

Prosecutors stated that the accused regularly beat Markel and his 10-year-old sister with belts and forced them to carry weights of around four kilograms as punishment. According to findings, the boy was deprived of food for days leading up to his death.

🇺🇸🚨 NIÑO DE 8 AÑOS MUERE POR ABUSO SISTEMÁTICO

Madre y novio confesaron golpizas con cinturón, privación de comida y cargas de peso durante 20 meses.

𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗨𝗘 @ULTIMAHORAENX 𝐀𝐏𝐎𝐘𝐀 𝐂𝐎𝐍 ♡︎/RT, 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐒.ᐟ

Markell Pierce, de 8 años, murió el viernes 6 de… pic.twitter.com/RMdRzruGRq
— Noticias y Tendencias: ⓍULTIMAHORAENX (@ULTIMAHORAENX) February 10, 2026

When emergency services arrived at the house last week, the child was unconscious, visibly malnourished, and covered in bruises. An autopsy confirmed that starvation and physical abuse caused his death. His older sister was hospitalized due to signs of abuse.

The director of the preschool the children attended last year said she had previously informed the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) because the children were consistently hungry. A few days after that report, their mother withdrew them from the preschool.

A three-year-old child was also in the home and is now under state protection. Prosecutors say there is currently no evidence that this child was abused.

Residents of Round Lake Beach gathered in front of the family’s home, lighting candles and leaving toys in memory of the boy.