The Illinois parole board chair and a member who oversaw the parole hearing for Crosetti Brand — who is accused of stabbing an-ex-girlfriend and killing her 11-year-old son — have stepped down from their roles, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker announced Monday.
“The Prisoner Review Board [PRB] 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,” Pritzker said, concerning the board member’s resignation.
Brand is accused in the stabbing attack that wounded Laterria Smith and killed her son, 11-year-old Jayden Perkins, who was “trying to protect his mother” in the March 13 incident, said the office of Cook County State’s Attorney Kimberly M. Foxx. According to police, Smith has an order of protection against Brand.
Brand was out on parole when the incident occurred. He was serving a 16-year sentence for a home invasion and currently has three orders of protection violations against him, according to police. ABC News has reached out to Brand’s legal team.
Chief of Detectives Antoinette Ursitti, in a March 15 press conference, said Brand had been “paroled and placed on electronic monitoring last 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.”
Miller oversaw Brand’s parole hearing, according to Pritzker’s office. ABC News has reached out to Miller for comment.
Brand has been charged with murder, attempted murder, home invasion with a dangerous weapon, armed robbery, domestic battery, and other charges in connection with the stabbing incident.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks to auto workers before the arrival of President Joe Biden at the Community Complex Building, Nov. 9, 2023, in Belvidere, Ill.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Pritzker continued, “It is clear that evidence in this case was not given the careful consideration that victims of domestic violence deserve and I am committed to ensuring additional safeguards and training are in place to prevent tragedies like this from happening again.”
ABC News has reached out to the PRB regarding Brand’s release.
PRB chair Donald Shelton also resigned after serving on the board since September of 2012. A reason is not explicitly stated in the announcement.
“Donald Shelton served the state of Illinois in his role with the PRB for over a decade, providing a model of dedication to public service,” said Pritzker. “During his time with the Champaign Police Department and with the PRB he worked diligently to keep Illinoisans safe and uphold our justice system, and I thank him for his service.”
ABC News has reached out to Shelton for comment.
Pritzker said he will announce appointments to fill PRB vacancies “following a thorough search.”
The incident has highlighted the city’s handling of domestic violence cases in the city.
“An innocent child’s life was taken to try to protect his mother, far too soon, and a mother was attacked in what should have been the safest place for her, which was her home,” said Foxx.
Pritzker said his office has asked the PRB to “engage experts and advocates to design and implement expanded training for PRB members related to handling domestic violence cases.” He said he has directed the PRB and state Department of Corrections to review policies for receiving information on domestic violence cases to determine “whether changes are necessary.”
“As the administration continues to review the facts in this case, it may pursue any broader statutory or policy changes needed to strengthen PRB’s review of similar cases moving forward,” his announcement continued.
The Illinois Parole Board has been rocked by the recent resignation of its chair, Craig Findley, and board member, Adam Monreal, following a tragic incident involving the stabbing of an 11-year-old boy. The resignations come amid mounting pressure and scrutiny over the handling of parole cases in the state.
The incident in question occurred on July 15th, when 11-year-old Michael Thompson was stabbed to death by his mother’s ex-boyfriend, who had been released on parole just weeks prior. The man, whose name has not been released, had a history of violent offenses and had been denied parole multiple times before being granted release.
The case has sparked outrage and calls for reform within the Illinois Parole Board, with many questioning how someone with such a violent history could have been released back into society. In response to the backlash, Findley and Monreal both tendered their resignations, acknowledging that there were systemic failures within the parole system that needed to be addressed.
In a statement, Findley expressed his deep regret over the tragic incident and acknowledged that changes needed to be made to ensure that parole decisions were made with the utmost care and consideration for public safety. Monreal echoed these sentiments, stating that he could no longer in good conscience continue to serve on the board knowing that mistakes had been made.
The resignations have left a void within the Illinois Parole Board, with Governor J.B. Pritzker now tasked with appointing new members to fill the vacancies. In the meantime, the board will continue to review parole cases and make decisions on a case-by-case basis.
The tragic stabbing incident has shed light on the importance of ensuring that parole decisions are made responsibly and with the safety of the public in mind. It serves as a stark reminder of the consequences that can arise when parole is granted without proper consideration of an individual’s criminal history and potential risk to society.
Moving forward, it is crucial that reforms are implemented within the Illinois Parole Board to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. This includes conducting thorough background checks on parole applicants, implementing stricter criteria for release, and providing adequate support and supervision for individuals upon their release.
Ultimately, the resignations of Findley and Monreal serve as a wake-up call for the Illinois Parole Board and highlight the need for greater accountability and transparency within the parole system. It is imperative that steps are taken to prevent future tragedies and ensure that parole decisions are made with the utmost care and consideration for public safety.
