An aunt allegedly stood by and watched the body of her nephew sink to the bottom of a lake. The youngster died on Sunday, nearly a week later, police said. 3-year-old Josiah Brown perished after his aunt Victoria Moreno, 34, shoved him off a pier in Chicago and into the icy water.
Moreno pushed the small child to his death on Monday. Allegedly she watched as the body of Brown sank to the murky waters of Chicago’s Navy Pier.
Divers searched for thirty minutes until they located the Body of Brown, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Officials told the Associated Press that the three-year-old suffered from cardiac arrest and was taken to Lurie Children’s Hospital, where he was in critical condition.
The Chicago Tribune reported that Brown passed away on Sunday.
Chicago police said Moreno is charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery to a child under 13, causing permanent disability.
On Sunday, WLS said that since the three-year-old’s death, the charges are more than likely to escalate.
On Wednesday, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Susanna Ortiz denied bail for Moreno. The defense for the accused stated that the woman had mental illnesses.
The AP reported that during the hearing, the judge said Moren’s alleged actions were “intentionally brutal and heinous.”
To help the family with medical expenses, a GoFundMe was set up.