THE FOLLOWING IS AN ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE RELEASE
Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced his office obtained a guilty verdict in its prosecution of a Vermilion County man on trial for the 2022 death of a 2-year-old toddler.
A Vermilion County Circuit Court jury found Dantrail Johnson, 32, of Danville, Illinois, guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Cali Sago, 2, also from Danville. Johnson’s next court date is scheduled for March 23.
“While nothing will change the horrific events that ultimately took the life of an innocent toddler, I hope today’s verdict brings some healing to Cali Sago’s family,” Raoul said. “I would like to thank the Vermilion County State’s Attorney’s Office for their continued partnership in protecting residents and holding those who commit violent crimes accountable.”
According to Raoul, Johnson was watching Cali Sago on the evening of Aug. 11, 2022 while Cali’s mother was at work. At approximately 8:38 p.m. that evening, officers from the Danville Police Department and paramedics were dispatched to Cali’s home in the 1200 block of Garden Drive in Danville after receiving a 911 call from Johnson stating that Cali was unresponsive. Cali was immediately taken to a local hospital and was ultimately airlifted to a pediatric unit in Peoria, Illinois, where she passed away on Sept. 11, 2022. The Peoria County Coroner’s Office conducted a postmortem examination of Cali and noted signs of violent abuse, including evidence of brain hemorrhaging, internal organ damage and rib fractures. The coroner’s report listed Cali’s cause of death as blunt force trauma due to physical abuse.
The Attorney General’s office is prosecuting the case with Vermilion County State’s Attorney Jacqueline M. Lacy’s office.
“Today’s verdict delivers justice for a child whose life was taken too soon, by unspeakable acts of violence,” Vermilion County State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy said. “We are grateful to the jurors and to the witnesses who came forward – especially the young sibling whose courage and strength in testifying were extraordinary – and to the dedicated members of the Danville Police Department whose tireless work made this verdict possible.”
Bureau Chief Michael Falagario and Supervising Attorney Daniel Weiler are prosecuting the case for Raoul’s Criminal Prosecutions and Trials Assistance Bureau, along with Assistant State’s Attorney Thomas O’Connor from the Vermilion County State’s Attorney’s Office.
