Stepdad starved and tortured 16-year-old, IL prosecutors say. He’s charged with murder
An Illinois stepfather is accused of starving and torturing his 16-year-old stepson, leading to his death, prosecutors said.
Steven Griffin, 44, faces eight charges including first-degree murder in connection with the Feb. 7 death of his stepson, Daniel Garza, according to a Feb. 20 news release from the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office shared by The Springfield Herald.
Garza arrived at the hospital Jan. 27 not breathing, weighing 94 pounds with a body temperature of 86 degrees, The State Journal-Register reported.
The teen also had a brain bleed, burns to his face and upper body, bruises, and a fractured ankle and shoulder blade, according to the outlet.
Griffin is accused of throwing hot water on his stepson, hitting him in the head with nunchucks and stomping on his ankle to torture the teen and cause him prolonged pain, WAND reported, citing Sangamon County prosecutors.
Griffin is also accused of not giving the teen enough food and water, according to the outlet.
Garza had been living out of hotels with his mother and stepfather since moving to Illinois from Washington state in November, prosecutors said, according to The Springfield Herald.
In addition to three counts of first-degree murder, Griffin is also charged with abuse or criminal neglect of a person with a disability, aggravated domestic battery, aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, child endangerment and contributing to the neglect of a minor, Sangamon County jail records show.
Griffin is also facing sexual abuse and exploitation charges in a case unrelated to the death of his stepson involving a 16-year-old Springfield girl, WICS reported.
Attorney information for Griffin was not available.
This story was originally published February 21, 2025 at 10:36 AM with the headline "Stepdad starved and tortured 16-year-old, IL prosecutors say. He’s charged with murder."
