Matteson man charged with murder of 2-year-old in Gary, Indiana

CHICAGO – A Matteson man has been accused of beating a 2-year-old boy to death at a home in Gary, Indiana, Monday night.

According to court documents, Ricky D. Larkin, 32, is accused of killing Je'Loni Smith at a home in the 300 block of Arthur Street.

Gary police were notified of a possible drowning at the home and upon arrival found Smith's body and a bathtub containing approximately eight inches of water.

Larkin told responding officers that Je'Loni had drowned in the bathtub, but the boy's body was not wet and the area around the bathtub was dry. He was later pronounced dead at Methodist Northlake Hospital.

Upon searching the apartment, officers found the bedroom was in disarray and discovered a dried brown stain with small chunks on the bed. They also discovered a small aluminum bat “conspicuously” placed next to the bed and collected as evidence.

Rochelle Smith, the boy's mother, told police that Larkin was her “on-again, off-again boyfriend” and took care of Je'Loni, even though he was not the child's father. Smith stated that she had been hospitalized for a drug overdose the day before Je'Loni's death and had feared leaving the boy in Larkin's care because of his abusive history and the way he treated Je'Loni differently treated as her other children.

Smith further told officers that Larkin neglected the children and did not feed or bathe them. On the day of Je'Loni's death, Larkin called Smith and told her to “get the kids” because “he had something to do,” according to court documents. Smith noted that Larkin sounded high during the call and was known to use marijuana and “Lean,” a codeine-laced drink often referred to as “Sizzurp.”

When questioned by investigators, Larkin confirmed the telephone conversation with Smith, who told him a friend was coming to pick up her children. Larkin said he began preparing the children to leave and put Je'Loni in the bathtub while he went outside for “two to three minutes” to make a phone call.

When he returned, Larkin claimed he found the boy lying on his side in the tub and began CPR while calling 911. During CPR, Larkin said he accidentally bit Je'Loni's lip.

Investigators asked Larkin if he ever hit or punished the children for peeing or vomiting in bed. He became upset and claimed that he “doesn’t hit kids.” Investigators told Larkin they discovered bruises on Je'Loni's body. Larkin denied hitting the child and suggested he may have slipped in the tub.

After being pressed about the bruises, Larkin acknowledged that the injuries could only have been caused by punches or punches, but insisted he was not responsible. He reportedly told investigators he had done a lot of “mess” in his life and that this incident was “karma,” court documents say.

While being held in the booking area, Larkin reportedly asked several questions about Je'Loni's autopsy, including whether it could determine how the boy's injuries occurred.

On Tuesday, authorities reviewed a call Larkin made from the Lake County Jail in which he admitted he was high during the incident and was the only adult in the house with Je'Loni.

An autopsy concluded Je'Loni's death was a blunt force homicide with injuries including multiple bruises, abrasions, lacerations and bleeding. Photos showed extensive bruising on the boy's back consistent with multiple blows, as well as swelling that caused one eye to remain closed.

According to the autopsy report, there were no signs of drowning or water in his lungs.