Illinois Prisoner Review Board Member Resigns Following Parolee’s Alleged Murder of Ex-Girlfriend and Her Son
The Illinois Governor’s office announced the resignation of a member of the state’s Prisoner Review Board on Monday, following a tragic incident where a man who was released on parole was charged with attacking his ex-girlfriend and killing her 11-year-old son.
LeAnn Miller, the specific board member involved in recommending the release of Crosetti Brand and conducting the hearing that granted him parole, has yet to comment on the case. The governor’s office stated that Miller is responsible for this decision regarding the 37-year-old parolee.
Brand, who stands accused of stabbing Laterria Smith, a 33-year-old woman, and killing her young son, Jayden Perkins, in their Chicago apartment on March 13, reportedly committed the heinous crime just one day after being released from prison. The tragic incident left Smith’s other son, a 5-year-old, as an eyewitness to the horrific event.
During a press conference held on March 15, Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling expressed his disappointment and frustration, stating that Brand “should not have been released” as he had previously violated protection orders. The suspect reportedly had three orders of protection against him, according to Snelling.
Brand had initially been released on parole the day before the attack and was serving a 16-year sentence for home invasion where he inflicted injuries. This marked his second stint on parole, as Antoinette Ursitti, the Chief of Chicago’s Bureau of Detectives, noted during the press conference.
Ursitti explained that Brand was taken back into custody in February after he violated parole by threatening Smith and showed up at her house. The suspect had a history of violence towards Smith, with whom he had previously been in a relationship.
Brand has since been charged with nine felony counts, including first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.
The Prisoner Review Board released a statement on March 18, admitting that they did not have access to the critical information about Smith’s request for an emergency order of protection at the time of Brand’s hearing. This vital information, which could have potentially influenced their decision to grant parole, was not generally provided to them.
Court records obtained by News Finder affiliate WBBM reveal that Smith petitioned for an emergency order of protection on February 21 against harassment, abuse, and stalking. She pleaded for protection from Brand due to his threatening text messages and requested that he stay away from her and her children. Unfortunately, the judge denied the request, citing insufficient evidence of an emergency.
Following the tragic event, Kahalah Clay, the Prisoner Review Board’s general counsel, issued a statement on March 19 explaining that Brand was determined not to meet the standards for detention after his February arrest.
Gov. JB Pritzker acknowledged the clear failure of evidence being given proper consideration in this case and expressed his commitment to ensuring additional safeguards and training are put in place to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
This incident has once again brought attention to the importance of prioritizing victims’ safety and providing the necessary resources for those seeking protection from abusive partners. The tragic loss of life underscores the need for thorough evaluations when considering parole releases, as well as effective implementation and enforcement of existing protection orders.
