Man accused of dismembering 2-year-old Kyrian Knox found not guilty

Police officers search the Garfield Park Lagoon in September 2015, after body parts belonging to 2-year-old Kyrian Knox were discovered. Jurors on Thursday began deliberations in the trial of Kamel Harris, who was babysitting the toddler, for murdering and dismembering the boy. 

Kamel Harris was the last witness called in a six-day trial at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse.

Kamel Harris was acquitted Thursday of the 2015 murder of 2-year-old Kyrian Knox, a toddler whose body parts were found floating in the Garfield Park Park Lagoon.

Harris, 44, leaned forward in his seat as the Cook County jury forewoman read the verdicts on each of the counts against him. As the verdict on the first count — first-degree murder — was announced, the boy’s mother, Lanisha Knox, let out a wail. She then rose from her seat and walked out before the final verdict was read.

Kyrian Knox | Photo courtesy ABC7 Chicago

Harris was the last witness called in a six-day trial at the Leighton Criminal Court Building Wednesday.

Kyrian’s hands, feet and head were found floating in the Garfield Park Lagoon that September.

Prosecutors said that after two weeks minding Kyrian and other children, Harris killed Kyrian in a fit of rage, then chopped up the body and tossed at least some of the parts into the Garfield Park Lagoon on Chicago’s West Side.