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Florida man charged in boy's fatal stabbing

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. - The 8-year-old son of an active-duty female sailor was found stabbed at a housing unit at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, and a Florida man has been charged in the boy's death, officials said.

Great Lakes police responded to a domestic disturbance call at a home at the suburban Chicago naval base Friday morning.

When they arrived, the child, Jesse Thomas, was lying motionless at the top of a staircase in the house, and Lebert D. Black was in the home holding a knife, Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Matthew Chancey said.

The boy's mother was outside the home, Chancey said.

Black, 42, of Jacksonville was charged Friday with first-degree murder, Chancey said.

Black was ordered held without bail and remained in custody Saturday at the Lake County Jail, authorities said. He was taken there after being treated at a hospital for what appeared to be self-inflicted stab wounds, Chancey said.

The State's Attorney's Office and base officials did not immediately return calls Saturday regarding Black's relationship to the boy.

Lake County Coroner Richard Keller said Thomas was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital shortly after police found him. He had been stabbed several times.

"Any time there is a tragic event of this magnitude, our hearts go out to the family members," said Great Lakes spokesman Ken Cronk.

[Last modified March 19, 2006, 01:06:13]