Illinois Prisoner Review Board chair resigns after parolee allegedly kills 11-year-old, injures mother
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
CHICAGO — A shake-up at the Illinois Prisoner Review Board after the deadly stabbing of an 11-year-old boy following the accused suspect’s release from prison.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced on Monday that prisoner review board member Lee Ann Miller and another member resigned after approving the release of convicted felon Crosetti Brand. A day after Brand’s release, prosecutors in Cook County say he stabbed Jayden Perkins to death and also critically hurt the boy’s pregnant mother at their Edgewater home on March 13.
Rebecca Darr, CEO of the WINGS Program, which is an organization that helps adults and children escape from domestic violence and abuse, said the resignations were warranted.
Man charged with murder of 11-year-old; boy defended mother
“Just like a lot of people very angry and disturbed by the cataphoric and systemic failure this family endured,” Darr said.
Darr said Jayden’s mother had an extensive history of trying to protect herself and her family from Brand but added that many disregarded her most recent plea for help.
“We look at these things. She went and asked for help. She said, ‘He was going to kill me,’ and she wasn’t taken seriously,” Darr said. “She wasn’t believed.”
Brand is facing first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, home invasion, along with many other felony charges.
Darr says if the prisoner review board or the judge had asked follow-up questions, Perkins may still be alive. Miller’s resignation, she added, is just one small step to accountability.
“I’m sure the prison board reviewers who were looking at this case have to just be feeling so horrible,” Darr said. “I appreciate that the governor made an announcement about it because I think it tells survivors that they do matter.”
A memorial for Jayden continues to grow outside his home.
Pritzker mentioned he’s committed to ensuring additional safeguards and training are in place to prevent further tragedies.
Read more: Latest Chicago news headline
WGN-TV contacted the prisoner review board for comment but hasn’t heard back.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
