A 6-year-old boy tragically lost his life in Michigan following a campaign of extreme abuse by his mother and her boyfriend, prosecutors say.
The boy, Giovanny “Chulo” Jennings, was reportedly stapled to a wall and shot with a BB gun before his death. Last week, Oakland County prosecutors announced new charges against the boy’s mother, 25-year-old Elaina Rose Jennings, and her boyfriend, 33-year-old Daniel John Giacchina. Both now face murder charges and could spend the rest of their lives in prison if convicted.
On July 30, police responded to a call in Madison Heights, Michigan, where they found the child unresponsive and severely injured. The boy was rushed to the hospital but sadly died the following day.
According to Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald, the boy had endured prolonged abuse and confinement. McDonald described the boy as having extensive bruising, a bloated abdomen, and an apparent BB gun wound to his shin. Emergency responders also noted severe external injuries.
During the investigation, authorities uncovered over 100 hours of videos and photos, as well as text messages discussing the abuse. It was revealed that the boy had been confined to a pen in the bedroom and was subjected to beatings in front of his siblings. The mother and her boyfriend allegedly monitored the boy’s behavior in the pen, punishing him for what they deemed “misbehavior,” which included urinating, drinking, and attempting to leave.
At one point, Giacchina reportedly stapled the boy to the wall to prevent him from moving, as documented in a photo showing the child’s shirt pinned by staples. The couple allegedly laughed about the incident, referring to the use of the staple gun as a solution to the child’s “problem” of looking out the window.
When authorities searched the home, they found marks in the wall matching a staple gun, as well as a BB gun and CO2 cartridges.
Prosecutor McDonald described the findings as “horrific” as the investigation continues to unfold.