How children services visited tragic Navin Jones, 8, just ONE MONTH before he died in a skeletal state after being beaten and starved at his Illinois home but case workers said he was SAFE

Child Protective Services visited the home of eight-year-old Navin Jones just a month before he died from beatings and starvation, along with a social worker, and noted that although he was malnourished, his health was not critical.

The revelation came on day three of the murder trial of Brandon Walker, Jones' father. He faces two counts of first-degree murder stemming from the tragic death of his child on March 29, 2022, in the city of Peoria, Illinois, approximately 160 miles southwest of Chicago.

Jones' mother, Stephanie Jones, has already pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree murder.

The child was found unconscious in a skeletal and emaciated condition in the house where he lived with his older brother and parents.

During the investigation into Jones' death, a A note was found on Jones' bedroom door that read: 'Do not give Navin food or drink. Don't let him leave the room. He has what he needs until I wake up.”

The little boy weighed only 30 pounds and he was found in a locked room covered in urine and feces. He showed signs of physical abuse on his face, body, arms and legs.

On Wednesday, Cathy Harvey, an investigator with the Department of Children and Family Services, told the jury that she made several visits to Jones' home in February 2022, but on two occasions, including one where she had made an appointment, no one did the door open.

Harvey finally met Jones and his brother on February 22. During her conversation with the child, he had a blanket over his lower half and was eating popcorn while drinking juice.

According to Harvey, she told the boy's father that she wanted him to be examined by a doctor. Walker told her that his mother, Laura Walker, was the legal guardian of both boys and that they needed her permission to do so.

Harvey contacted Laura Walker and had her sign a temporary consent decree. According to the social worker, those signed papers arrived at Jones' home on the day of his death.

The doctor who examined Jones' body after his death described his condition as “severely malnourished.” Blood tests showed that he was regularly malnourished and dehydrated.

Prosecutors said the boy's room was disgusting and deplorable, with only a bed and one toy, while the rest of the North Gale Avenue home was “well appointed” with a well-stocked refrigerator and pantry.

His mother faces at least 20 years in prison when she is sentenced in February.

In exchange for her guilty plea, State's Attorney Jodi Hoos agreed not to give her a life sentence.

Jones agreed to testify against the boy's father, Walker, 41.

Body cam footage has since revealed the moment Peoria police showed up at Jones and Walker's home after Jones called 911 to report that Navin was cold and lifeless.

Officers in the clip immediately disagree with Jones' story and the condition of the boy's body.

Stephanie, the mother, is seen on the steps of the house, crying into her hands, while smoking a cigarette.

When the father is told there's a chance the child can't be resuscitated, Brandon runs to a car, slams his fists on the hood and shouts, “There's no damn way.”

The bodycam in the house showed the mess, but also the bare room in which Navin lived.

The rope used to keep his door closed was visible, as was a note written by one of his parents to his older brother, telling him not to feed Navin.

Before Navin came into the care of his mother and father, he was cared for by his grandmother. She had been doing this since the boy was only five months old.

After briefly leaving Washington in July 2021, she returned to find Walker and Jones refusing to return the boy to her.

In an attempt to get the boy back into her care, Laura Walker contacted the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, the Washington Police Department and the Peoria Peoria Department.

She said that despite her best efforts, nothing changed.

DCFS investigated Laura Walker's claims but said her allegations were “baseless.”

In February 2022, an anonymous tip led DCFS to visit the home. Navin was seen as 'sickly', thin and small. Because Navin told the social worker that he wanted to stay with his parents, they noted that he was safe.

Just over a month later, on March 29, Navin was found unconscious.

Stephanie, his mother, told police she had put the boy in the shower when she noticed he was not breathing. Navin died in hospital later that day.

Detective Roberto Vasquez, who was at the scene, said the odor coming from the little boy's room was unlike anything he had smelled before. There were no sheets or blankets on his bed.

His bedroom door had no doorknob, but instead there was a rope to keep it closed.

Forensic pathologist Amanda Youmans, who carried out Navin's autopsy, told the court that the little boy had lost the fat layer under his skin and was showing signs of chronic malnutrition.

Navin is said to have had limited mobility before his death as his muscles had to atrophy. The boy was also covered in bruises – including on his wrists – consistent with being restrained and caused by blunt force trauma.

Youmans said his death was ruled a failure due to malnutrition.

The boy also suffered cardiac arrest, caused by starvation.

Shocking text messages between Jones and Walker, seized in October 2021 and shown in grand jury testimony, showed Walker wanting to put the boy in the basement after he urinated on the wall.

Gary Morris, Walker's attorney, has blamed DCFS for failing to give legal guardianship to Jones and Walker.

He said, “DCFS needs to be more responsible in getting custody changed from one person to another if they need medical attention because everyone agreed they couldn't take the child to the doctor and that's a fact .'