The coroner has released the identity of an 8-year-old boy who authorities say was punched, beaten with a belt, malnourished and put in a cold shower in Round Lake Beach before he died Friday.
The Round Lake Beach Police Department and Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District responded around 2:05 p.m. Friday to a report of an unresponsive child at a residence at the Cedar Villas Apartments in the 1900 block of North Cedar Lake Road in Round Lake Beach.
Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek identified the child on Monday morning as Markell Pierce, 8, of Round Lake Beach.
The boy’s mother – Dominique Servant, 33 – and her boyfriend – Joey L. Ruffin, 38 – were both charged with first-degree murder with the intent to kill or do great bodily harm, first-degree murder with the strong probability of death or great bodily harm and child endangerment causing death.
Police officers arrived on scene and immediately performed CPR on Markell, according to Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokesman Christopher Covelli.
Paramedics arrived afterwards and took over life-saving efforts on the boy and rushed him to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, where he was pronounced dead in the emergency, Covelli said.
Banek said an autopsy on Markell was performed on Friday and while evidence of injuries and malnourishment was noted, preliminary results are pending further laboratory and forensic testing.
“First responders noticed the child appeared malnourished and had bruising on his body,” Covelli said. “Based on the suspicious injuries and circumstances, Round Lake Beach Police requested the assistance of the Lake County Major Crime Task Force.”
Major crime task force investigators and police detectives found evidence that Markell had been experiencing long-term neglect, physical abuse and mental abuse, Covelli said.
Servant and Ruffin were both arrested on Friday and the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed the first-degree murder and child endangerment charges against them.
“The loss of Markell Pierce is devastating. No child should suffer at the hands of those entrusted with their care. We are reminded of our shared responsibility to look out for the most vulnerable among us,” Banek said.
Servant and Ruffin both appeared in Lake County Court on Sunday morning for their first appearance hearings, where prosecutors uncovered more details of the abuse and neglect that the boy and his 10-year-old sister experienced.
Ruffin would force Markell to hold a weight above his head as a regular form of punishment and recently switched him to a liquid diet as a punishment for when he wouldn’t eat, Lewis said.
Servant said she saw Ruffin punch Markell in the chest on Thursday and that the last time he was fed was on or around Wednesday.
Servant also told police that she let Ruffin handle the punishment for Markell, Lewis said, like using a belt on him and making him and his 10-year-old sister hold weights above their head.
On Friday, Ruffin hit the boy with a belt multiple times throughout the day, Lewis said.
At some point in the day, Ruffin noticed Markell was sluggish, so he put him in a cold shower, Lewis said.
Later in the day, Markell fell over and became unresponsive, Lewis said.
Ruffin attempted CPR on the boy and called Servant, who told Ruffin to call 911, which led to the police and fire/rescue response to the apartment at around 2:05 p.m., Lewis said.
Investigators later searched Ruffin’s phone and found videos where he would record himself punishing Markell, Lewis said.
Several videos were found from Friday, including one from a little over an hour before the 911 call that showed the boy shirtless with bruises on his body, Lewis said.
Ruffin was verbally abusive to Markell in the video, Lewis added.
In an interview at the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center, the sister detailed punishments similar to those described by Ruffin and Servant, Lewis said.
She said that she and her younger brother were often kept in their rooms and that she didn’t see her brother at all on Friday, Lewis said.
Covelli said the sibling was admitted to a hospital for signs of abuse and malnourishment.
In the summer of 2025, Servant and Ruffin were directed to take Markell to the emergency room, but they didn’t, Lewis said.
Investigators were also unable to find any subsequent medical care for Markell.
Lake County Judge James Simonian called the details “horrendous” and “horrible.”
The judge ordered Servant and Ruffin held for their detention hearings on Monday after prosecutors filed petitions to deny Servant and Ruffin’s pre-trial release.
During the court hearing, Servant told Simonian she works for the Special Education District of Lake County (SEDOL).
On SEDOL’s staff directory, Servant is listed as a paraprofessional at the Fairhaven School in Mundelein.
Lake & McHenry County Scanner has reached out to SEDOL administration and has made Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to learn more about Servant’s employment.
Servant and Ruffin remain held in the Lake County Jail. Their detention hearings are scheduled for Monday afternoon.
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart released a statement Saturday evening on the case, calling it a “horrific crime.”
“This eight-year old child should still be alive, and this horrific crime was preventable. In light of the ongoing nature of this investigation, the moral mandate that we secure justice, and the need to hold every responsible party accountable, we will be providing limited information prior to a full presentment of charges to the grand jury,” Rinehart said.
“I will say this: if you see signs of a child being abused or malnourished, report it. If you need help as a parent, get it. If you are abusing your child, stop it now. If you are abusing your child or criminally neglecting their basic needs, and that child dies, you will be prosecuted for murder in Lake County,” Rinehart added.
Round Lake Beach Police Chief Ryan Rodriguez also issued a statement Saturday evening, saying the community is grieving.
“The tragic loss of an eight-year-old child has shaken us to our core. There are simply no words that can fully capture the heartbreak we feel as parents, neighbors, friends, and as a police department,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said he is grateful for the first responders who rushed to the apartment and thanked law enforcement and the state’s attorney’s office as they continue their investigation.
“Above all, let us honor this young life by recommitting ourselves to unity, protection, purpose, and love for one another. Beyond our professional responsibility, the men and women of the Round Lake Beach Police Department stand with you as fellow members of this grieving community. May we find peace. May we find strength. And may we never lose sight of what matters most,” the chief said.
The case remains under investigation by the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force, Round Lake Beach Police Department and Lake County Coroner’s Office.