Dad with history of domestic violence charged with 1st-degree murder of 14-month-old son (Chicago, Illinois)

Though the dad DONALD JOHNSON was no longer with the mother of their 14-month-old son, he had a history of domestic violence and continued to be very controlling. It seems the mother left Daddy to "babysit" because she had to work, and Daddy's notion of babysitting included strangling the todder and throwing him in Lake Michigan.

Once again, a lesson as to why fathers with histories of domestic violence should NEVER do child care.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-10-09/news/ct-met-johnson-bond-1010-20101009_1_prosecutors-family-plans-death

Man held without bail in death of 14-month-old son
Family of Dontrell Johnson recalls boy who was 'full of joy'
October 09, 2010By Dan Hinkel, Tribune reporter

When his grandson Dontrell Johnson went missing last week, Gene Quarles worried that the 14-month-old boy's father had hurt him, given how uneasy the family had been about leaving the child alone with his daughter's ex-boyfriend.

His fear for his grandson's safety was justified. Dontrell was found in Lake Michigan, and Cook County prosecutors have charged Donald Johnson, 30, with first-degree murder.

Speaking Saturday shortly after the man he knew as "Lil' Don" was ordered held without bail in Cook County Jail, Quarles said he learned of the boy's fate when his daughter Regina Quarles called him Thursday.

"She said: 'Daddy, Lil' Don put Dontrell in the lake,'" Quarles recalled. "I really couldn't function."
It was unusual for Johnson to be alone with his son, but that was the case Wednesday after the defendant's mother left for work, prosecutors said.

Johnson, of the 2200 block of South Princeton Avenue, has a history of domestic violence, prosecutors said. He allegedly told people that he was angry that Dontrell's mother had a new boyfriend.

He text messaged Regina Quarles, saying he wanted to see her, prosecutors said. He then allegedly texted and called her and other people, threatening to kill himself and the boy.

Later, Johnson called the child's mother and said "It's done," according to police reports.

Johnson was arrested Wednesday night. He told Chicago police that Dontrell was with someone else on the West Side and that he would get the boy if they would let him.

A boater spotted Dontrell floating near 68th Street at about 2 p.m. Thursday, police said. An autopsy showed he was strangled, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Quarles, who lives with his wife and daughter in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood, remembered the child toddling up to greet him after work.

The boy was "full of joy" and his death has crushed his daughter, he said.

"He ain't got a chance to see Halloween yet, Christmas," Quarles said.

The family plans to hold a 2 p.m. vigil Sunday for Dontrell near the 68th Street site where the boy was found.