John Milhiser, the state’s attorney, has revealed that a stepfather has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the lengthy abuse that resulted in the death of Daniel Garza, who was seventeen years old.
A grand jury in Sangamon County, Illinois, indicted Steven Griffin on eight counts, one of which was First Degree Murder, in connection with the continuous abuse that culminates in the murder of his stepson Daniel Garza, who was sixteen years old.
According to the eight-count indictment, Griffin is accused of failing to provide Daniel with sufficient food and drink, as well as causing blunt force injuries to his body and head, which ultimately led to that individual’s death.
Every single one of these occurrences took place in Sangamon County. In November of 2024, the defendant Steven Griffin, the victim Daniel Garza, and the wife of Griffin, Kristin Griffin, who is the biological mother to Daniel, relocated from the state of Washington to the city of Springfield.
While they were in Springfield, the family had been residing in hotels throughout their time there. With the help of his mother and stepfather Griffin, Daniel Garza was transported to the emergency room at St. John’s Hospital on the 27th of January, 2025.
At the time of his arrival at the hospital, Daniel was comatose and not breathing. His body temperature was 86 degrees, and he weighed 94 pounds.
He suffered burns to his face, neck, and chest in addition to a subdural hemorrhage that occurred in his head. He suffered fractures to his scapula and ankle, in addition to bruising that covered the whole of his body.
After being sent to St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Daniel eventually received specialist care in Indianapolis, where he passed away on February 7, 2025. Both of these locations were in Indianapolis.
Griffin has been charged with Aggravated Battery in addition to First Degree Murder. The allegations against him are that he threw boiling water on Daniel, causing him to get severe burns on his face, neck, and chest.
According to this accusation, Griffin’s acts were deliberate and included the inflicting of torture, which involved putting Daniel through great physical pain. The accusation further states that Griffin’s actions were motivated by a purpose to intensify or prolong Daniel’s pain, suffering, or misery.
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Griffin is also charged with Aggravated Domestic Battery, which is based on the allegation that he stepped on Daniel’s ankle, causing a fracture, and struck Daniel in the back of the head with nunchucks.
Abuse or criminal neglect of a person with a disability, as well as endangering the life or health of a child, are additional allegations that have been brought against the defendant.
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Steven Griffin was also indicted in another case, which was unconnected to the victim Daniel Garza.
In this case, he was charged with Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse, Indecent Solicitation of a Child, Grooming, Sexual Exploitation of Child, and Distributing Harmful Material in reference to a female from Springfield who was 16 years old.
