A Michigan mother and her boyfriend are accused of repeatedly abusing their six-year-old son, which ultimately led to his death, authorities claim.

Elaina Rose Jennings, 25, and Daniel John Giacchina, 32, both of Madison Heights, Michigan, have been charged with first-degree murder and child abuse in connection with the July death of 6-year-old Giovanni “Chulo” Jennings, Oakland County District Attorney Karen McDonald announced at a news conference Friday, Aug. 9.

McDonald alleged that the couple severely abused the boy and beat him regularly, saying he was “locked up, beaten and tied to the wall with a stapler.” Prosecutors alleged that Jennings knew her son was seriously injured but did not take him to medical treatment because she feared others would learn of the alleged abuse.

On July 30, at about 2:35 p.m., Jennings called 911 to report her son was not breathing, McDonald said. Emergency responders took the boy to the hospital, but he later died around midnight on July 31.

According to McDonald, an autopsy revealed that the boy died of blunt force trauma to the abdomen and a perforated intestine “after a long period of captivity and abuse.” His death was ruled a homicide. Photos taken during the autopsy showed that he had bruises and cuts all over his body, McDonald said.

McDonald alleged that both Jennings and Giacchina conspired to falsely tell police that Chulo’s father was last with the child, when in reality the boy was in Giacchina’s care while she was at work that day. Investigators spoke with the boy’s father and determined he was not involved in the alleged abuse.

According to McDonald, the couple allegedly kept the 6-year-old boy in a pen in the corner of the couple’s bedroom, where he was forced to sleep on a 11-by-36-inch wooden slat. Additionally, a black curtain was allegedly installed to prevent Chulo from seeing outside and barricades were put up to keep him in place.

“Chulo was beaten by Giacchina on numerous occasions,” McDonald alleged. “Although this abuse sometimes occurred while Jennings was at work, Jennings was aware of and condoned the physical attacks and at times even encouraged Giacchina to abuse Chulo.”

According to McDonald, Giacchina purchased a home security system and mounted a camera on the wall to monitor what he and Jennings called “the corner,” the area where Chulo was locked up. The couple watched videos of Chulo attempting to urinate, drink or leave the cell, prosecutors alleged.

In the days before Chulo was found unconscious, Giacchina allegedly tied the boy’s clothes to the wall with staples and jammed his head in the corner as punishment for “looking out the window in the pen area,” McDonald said.

According to McDonald, Giacchina then allegedly texted Jennings saying he had “solved the problem” and sent a photo of the boy that he had stapled to the corner of the pen. Both Jennings and Giacchina reportedly laughed at the photo, McDonald claimed. McDonald further claimed that Chulo was shot with a pellet gun as part of the abuse.

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During a search of the home where Jennings lived with Chulo, her two other minor children and Giacchina, investigators reportedly found a stapler, an air rifle and a 9mm ghost gun, as well as projectile holes in the walls, McDonald said.

Authorities also reportedly found a photo of children handling a pistol and an air rifle, in which Giacchina can be seen. Another photo allegedly shows two children pointing the pistol at a third child.

Speaking to investigators, Chulo’s 4-year-old brother claimed Giacchina shot him with a BB gun and also shot Chulo in the butt with a BB gun, McDonald said. The boy also claimed that on the day of his death, Chulo “was dead all day and Danny was there,” referring to Giacchina.

McDonald claimed that Jennings later admitted that Giacchina punched Chulo in the stomach several times about three days before his death. Jennings later claimed to police that as a result of these punches, Chulo began vomiting and his condition continued to deteriorate until she found him unconscious in Giacchina’s presence, McDonald claimed.

The murder and abuse charges come on top of the charges on which Jennings and Giacchina were arrested last week. Jennings and Giacchina are accused of lying to a police officer, and Giacchina faces an additional charge of weapons possession. It is unclear whether they have entered a confession or have retained attorneys to speak on their behalf.

Both are being held in the Oakland County Jail and were denied bail during a court hearing on August 9, according to a statement from the district attorney’s office. A bond hearing is scheduled for August 21 in 43rd District Court.

“All children have the right to grow up in a home free from fear,” McDonald said. “This child and his siblings suffered unimaginable abuse and lived in fear every day.”

“My office and the Madison Heights Police Department are committed to using every tool at our disposal to seek justice for Chulo, hold those responsible for his death accountable, and seek a punishment that reflects the horror of his death,” the prosecutor added.