Round Lake Beach couple pleads not guilty in the death of 8-year-old boy

A Round Lake Beach couple charged with murder in the Feb. 6 death of an 8-year-old boy pleaded not guilty Thursday in a Lake County courtroom.

Dominque Servant, 33, and her boyfriend Joey L. Ruffin, 38, face first-degree murder charges in the death of Servant's son, Markell Pierce, whose alleged long-term abuse was described by authorities as “particularly heinous”

Ruffin and Servant also are charged with aggravated battery to a child, aggravated domestic battery and endangering the life or health of a child. They could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder and the crime is found to be “exceptionally brutal or heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty.”

Prosecutors say Servant and Ruffin engaged in a long-term pattern of physical and mental abuse of Markell. Authorities say the boy’s 10-year old sister was hospitalized for malnourishment and abuse and another child, age 3, was placed in the care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

Police and paramedics called to the couple’s home last month found Markell unresponsive, prosecutors said. Evidence indicated he had been subjected to neglect and abuse over an extended period, according to prosecutors.

The abuse included of the defendants striking Pierce with a belt, forcing him to hold an 8-pound weight over his head and denying him food, prosecutors allege. The children were relegated to their bedrooms, which had alarms on the doors, and had to ask permission to use the bathroom, authorities say.

Servant’ is scheduled to return to court April 27. Ruffin is due back in court April 28. Both are being held in the Lake County jail while awaiting trial.