‘Particularly heinous’: Judge detains couple charged in boy’s death

A Round Lake Beach boy who died last week was the victim of long-term systematic abuse, prosecutors alleged during court hearings Monday for his mother and her boyfriend.

Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim agreed the treatment of 8-year-old Markell Pierce appeared to be “particularly heinous” and ordered Dominque Servant, 33, and Joey L. Ruffin, 38, held in jail while their cases are pending.

Both face with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of child endangerment stemming from Markell’s death last week.

Prosecutors alleged Monday that Servant and Ruffin engaged in a long-term pattern of physical and mental abuse of Markell, adding that the boy’s 10-year old sister remains hospitalized for malnourishment and abuse.

A 3-year-old child in the home has been placed in the care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

First responders were called to the home on the 1900 block of Cedar Lake Road about 2:05 p.m. Friday for an unresponsive child. Investigators found evidence the child had been subject to neglect, physical abuse and mental abuse, the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force reported.

Markell was pronounced dead about 3:40 p.m. at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.

The detention hearing Monday afternoon followed a report by the Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek earlier in the day stating that evidence of injuries and malnourishment were found during an autopsy of Markell. However, a formal cause of death is pending further laboratory and forensic testing, Banek reported.

During Monday’s court hearings, Assistant Lake County State’s Attorney Jeffrey Facklam outlined what he described as “truly horrific” evidence in the case.

He alleged abuse occurred over an extended period with knowledge and planning. Evidence indicates the siblings were isolated in their rooms and didn’t often see each other, he said. They needed permission to use the restroom and there were alarms on their bedroom doors and security cameras located throughout the house, he added.

Markell was regularly struck with a belt and forced to hold an 8-pound weight over his head as “a regular form of punishment,” potentially for hours at a time, Facklam said.

In an initial court proceeding Sunday, prosecutors said the boy was placed on a liquid diet and the last time he was given food was on or about Wednesday.

On the day Markell died, according to Facklam, Ruffin saw him on the floor wrapped in a plastic sheet and pillow, which he was not allowed to have. Ruffin struck the boy with a belt several times because he wouldn’t eat then placed him in a cold shower, Facklam said.

Afterwards, Facklam said, Ruffin heard a thump and found the child slumped over.

“There should be one more eight-year-old alive in this world today. This horrific death was preventable.” Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said after court. “We must do everything we can to make sure this type of slow-motion murder is not happening anywhere, and that it never happens again.”

Ruffin and Servant are scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing March 3. Authorities said the couple have been dating and living together since 2021. Servant is the mother of Markell and his 10-year-old sister; Ruffin is the father of the 3-year-old, officials said.