3-Year-Old Boy Dies after Being Allegedly Pushed into Lake by Aunt – His Dad Was Awaiting Surgery and Couldn't See Him

In a heart-wrenching turn of events, a three-year-old Illinois boy breathed his last days after his aunt secretly took him out of the house and allegedly pushed him into Lake Michigan.

Josiah Brown was a chirpy little boy who was the center of his family's attention. Like most kids, Josiah enjoyed outdoor activities and was a source of joy for his parents.

Josiah's mother often left him at his grandmother's home in Des Plaines, Illinois, where he enjoyed playing with his cousins in the backyard. The neighbors often saw the family host fun-filled birthday parties at the grandmother's residence.

A Usual Day

It was a usual day for Josiah and his family when his mother dropped him off at his grandmother's house on September 19, 2022. Meanwhile, Josiah's father, Dantrell Brown, was waiting for his heart transplant at Loyola Medical Center.

Josiah's grandmother and two aunts were in the house to look after him, but what happened next was something no one had seen coming. Josiah's 34-year-old aunt, Victoria Moreno, is said to have secretly taken him out of the house.

She reportedly picked up the keys to the family truck and stepped out of the house when her sister and mother were busy. A few minutes later, Josiah's other aunt realized Moreno had left the house with him, knowing she wasn't allowed to drive.

The Second Time

Everyone in the family knew Moreno wasn't allowed to drive because of her "mental health issues." A week earlier, she drove to the Navy Pier with her nieces and nephews, but the oldest sensed something was wrong and informed his family members.

Two passersby claimed they heard a splash and saw Moreno looking into the lake while her nephew floated in the water.

However, no one knew where Moreno was headed with Josiah this time. At first, she reportedly intended to take the toddler to a nearby aquarium but then parked the truck outside a restaurant at the Navy Pier to get a meal.

The Shocking Incident

According to the authorities, Josiah left the restaurant unattended and was about to get into an accident. Then, Moreno walked with him on the sidewalk beside the lake before the unthinkable happened.

Josiah crawled towards the edge of the lakefront, but Moreno pulled him back. According to the prosecutors, Moreno did so because of the people around her. Prosecutor Lorraine Scaduto said:

"The defendant [Moreno] looked around her multiple times and waited for people to leave."

The Passersby

"When no one was present, she allowed the 3-year-old child to crawl back under the chain toward the edge of the platform — doing nothing," Scaduto added and revealed that Moreno crossed the chain and pushed Josiah into the lake.

Two passersby claimed they heard a splash and saw Moreno looking into the lake while her nephew floated in the water. Ashton King immediately dialed 911 while her friend, Allison Huston, ran to grab the life preserver. However, it was too late when she returned.

Josiah sank to the bottom of the lake while his aunt "stood by and did not do anything." Soon, the first responders arrived, and divers swam back to the lake's surface thirty minutes later with Josiah, who was still alive.

The Aunt

"My friend and I were both like, something is not right with this woman," King revealed. When the police arrived at the scene and questioned Moreno, she claimed she didn't know the boy.

King and Huston said they asked the police to interrogate her and told them what they saw earlier. The two women were sure something was not right with Moreno.

Meanwhile, the paramedics took little Josiah to Lurie Children's Hospital after he suffered a cardiac arrest. The doctors weren't hopeful about his survival.

The Court Hearing

After the police questioned Moreno, they arrested her and filed a murder charge against her. In a court hearing on September 21, prosecutor Scaduto described what happened at the Navy Pier in detail.

Meanwhile, the public defender, Patrick Shine, said Moreno's actions were a result of her mental health problems. Shine claimed that Moreno didn't intend to hurt her nephew, but she did so because "something happened" in her mind.

While Shine wanted Judge Susanna Ortiz to release Moreno, the prosecutor wished otherwise. After hearing both sides of the story, Ortiz said Moreno was "a danger to the community" and denied her bail.

His Father

While little Josiah was going through the worst, his father was in the hospital waiting for a heart transplant. Dantrell was diagnosed with a heart condition a few days before welcoming Josiah into this world.

Things took a turn for the worse when little Josiah succumbed to his injuries on September 25. His family was devastated after losing their little boy at such a tender age. Dantrell expressed his grief in an Instagram post, saying:

"I'm not ok. I'm trying, but I'm not ok and never will be."

"If I don't make it out, we can finally have that swim together that I promised you," Dantrell said while referring to the heart transplant he had been waiting for. The incident left the entire family heartbroken.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Josiah's parents, family, and friends, who are dealing with the unimaginable pain of this tragedy. We pray little Josiah's soul rests in peace.

Click here to read another story about a 12-year-old boy struggling for his life after a hit-and-run incident. The lively boy had left his house to meet a neighbor.