The chair and a member of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board have resigned after approving the parole of a man who allegedly attacked his ex-girlfriend and killed her 11-year-old son the day after his release.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a March 25 statement that board chair Donald Shelton and board member LeAnn Miller have stepped down, without specifying the reasons behind their resignations.
Ms. Miller conducted the parole hearing that resulted in the release of Crosetti Brand, who was accused of stabbing his pregnant ex-girlfriend Laterria Smith, 33, and killing her 11-year-old son, Jayden Perkins.
“The Prisoner Review Board must be able to operate independently as they review enormously difficult cases, but I believe LeAnn Miller has made the correct decision in stepping down from her role,” Mr. Pritzker said.
The governor thanked Mr. Shelton for his decade-long service, saying that he had “worked diligently to keep Illinoisans safe and uphold our justice system.”
‘Brutal Attack’
The suspect allegedly broke into their home in the 5900 block of North Ravenswood Avenue on March 13 while Ms. Smith was preparing to take her two sons to school.
“Let me start by saying this is something that should have never happened,” Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said at a press conference on March 15.
According to him, Ms. Smith was stabbed “multiple times.” The attacker then fatally stabbed Jayden. Ms. Smith’s other son, a 5-year-old, witnessed the attack but was uninjured.
“This mom’s life is now forever changed. Along with being brutally attacked, stabbed multiple times, dealing with that trauma, she has to face the fact that she will never see, touch, hug her 11-year-old son,” he said.
Mr. Snelling said that the suspect had just been paroled from prison the day before he “brutally attacked” the victims and was “still serving a 16-year sentence for home invasion where he caused injury.”
This was Mr. Brand’s second release on parole. During his first parole, Mr. Brand violated protection orders and was taken into custody. “He has three orders of protection violations against him,” Mr. Snelling said.
Ms. Smith also had a protection order against the suspect, whom she had a relationship with 15 years ago.
Chief of Detectives Antoinette Ursitti said that Mr. Brand had a history of domestic abuse and was put on electronic monitoring in October.
“While he was on parole, he threatened the female victim via text and also showed up at her home. He was sent back to prison in February for this parole violation,” Ms. Ursitti told reporters.
According to the police, Mr. Brand faces nine felony charges including one count of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, one count of domestic battery aggravated, and three counts of home invasion with a dangerous weapon.
