Chicago, Illinois – The governor of Illinois announced the resignation of a member of the state’s prisoner review board following a tragic incident involving a man released on parole. The man, Crosetti Brand, was charged with attacking a former girlfriend and killing her 11-year-old son.
LeAnn Miller, a member of the review board, recommended Brand’s release and conducted the hearing that led to his parole. The violent incident occurred in their Chicago apartment on March 13, with Brand accused of stabbing Laterria Smith and fatally injuring her son, Jayden Perkins.
The Chicago Police Superintendent, Larry Snelling, expressed that the attack could have been prevented, citing Brand’s history of violating protection orders. It was revealed that Brand had multiple violations against him and was released on parole despite still serving a 16-year sentence for a previous offense.
Brand faces nine felony charges, including first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. The Prisoner Review Board acknowledged that they did not have information regarding the victim’s pending Order of Protection, a critical point that was not considered during the parole hearing.
The tragic incident raised concerns about the handling of domestic violence cases by the board. Governor JB Pritzker expressed his commitment to implementing additional safeguards and training to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Subsequently, the chair of the review board, Donald Shelton, announced his resignation, though it remains unclear if it is directly related to the March incident.
Overall, the case sheds light on the complexities of parole decisions and the importance of thorough consideration of all relevant information, particularly in cases involving domestic violence. The ongoing investigation is expected to bring more clarity and potentially lead to changes in the parole system to prioritize victim safety.