Stepfather who allegedly tortured, starved and beat stepson, 16, charged with murder
An Illinois man is accused of inflicting prolonged abuse and torture on his 16-year-old stepson — who died a week after he was found unresponsive, brutally beaten, covered in burns and starved.
Steven Griffin, 44, was indicted on first-degree murder and other related charges for the fatal beatdown and horrific torment of his stepson, Daniel Garza, according to the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Springfield Herald News reported.
The cruel stepfather is also accused of throwing hot water on the teen, hitting him in the head with nunchucks, stomping on his ankle and not giving the boy enough food and water.
Prosecutors said the teen died of blunt force trauma to his head and body and starvation.
The teen, who was living out of hotels in Springfield with his mother and stepfather, was taken to St. John’s Hospital on Jan. 27, weighing 94 pounds and with a body temperature of 86 degrees, prosecutors said.
The battered teen also suffered a brain bleed, burns to his face, neck and chest, with bruises shrouding his body and fractures to his shoulder blade and ankle, according to the outlet, which shared the news release.
The boy was transferred to a children’s hospital and then eventually to Indianapolis for specialized care, where he died on Feb. 7, prosecutors said.
Griffin is also charged with aggravated battery, aggravated domestic battery, endangering the life or health of a child and abuse or criminal neglect of a person with a disability, the outlet reported.
He is also facing sexual abuse and exploitation charges in an unrelated case involving a 16-year-old girl.
