The case ended with Victoria Moreno's guilty plea to an amended murder charge and a 40-year prison sentence for pushing her 3-year-old nephew, Josiah Bell Brown, into Lake Michigan near Navy Pier in 2022. The boy survived for six days before dying on Sept. 25, 2022, according to ABC7 Chicago.
According to ABC7 Chicago, Moreno made no attempt to rescue Josiah after pushing him into the water near the popular lakefront attraction. Prosecutors said the incident was captured on surveillance video, though the outlet's reporting does not detail exactly what the footage showed beyond confirming its existence.
Moreno initially pleaded not guilty before later entering a guilty plea to the amended count, ABC7 Chicago reported. The change in plea preceded the 40-year sentence.
Case Timeline and Court Proceedings
The 2022 incident near Navy Pier was followed by years of court proceedings, including Moreno's initial not-guilty plea, fitness evaluations and eventual guilty plea.
What Illinois drowning data shows
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, provisional data recorded 101 accidental drowning deaths in Illinois in 2024, including 14 involving children ages 0-17. The department advises parents and caregivers to ensure children learn basic swimming and water-safety skills at an early age.
ABC7 Chicago reported that Moreno was found mentally fit to stand trial with the help of medications and had previously been found fit in February 2024. Her lawyers said she had been diagnosed with depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder.
Family Remembers a Boy Full of Energy
Dan Brown described his grandson as a bundle of joy who was full of energy, wanted to do everything and loved his father, according to ABC7 Chicago.
Moreno's 40-year sentence formally resolves a prosecution that began after the September 2022 incident and included a not-guilty plea and multiple fitness evaluations before her admission of guilt.
