Chicago, Illinois – The governor of Illinois announced the resignation of a member of the state’s prisoner review board following the tragic incident involving a parolee. LeAnn Miller, who recommended the release of Crosetti Brand, found herself under scrutiny after Brand was accused of attacking a woman and killing her 11-year-old son after being granted parole.
Brand, who had previously violated protection orders, committed the violent act in the victim’s Chicago apartment. Tragically, not only was the mother killed, but her five-year-old son also witnessed the stabbings. Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling expressed regret over the incident, highlighting Brand’s history of protection order violations.
Despite being released on parole the day before the attack, Brand had a prior record, including a 16-year sentence for home invasion. The suspect was on his second stint on parole when the tragic event occurred. Antoinette Ursitti, the chief of Chicago’s Bureau of Detectives, emphasized the seriousness of the situation.
Following the incident, it was revealed that Brand had been previously taken into custody on a parole violation after threatening the victim. Brand now faces multiple felony charges, including first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. The Prisoner Review Board acknowledged that they did not have all pertinent information about the victim when making the decision to grant parole to Brand.
Subsequently, Governor JB Pritzker expressed his commitment to preventing such tragedies from happening again. He announced the resignation of the review board’s chair, Donald Shelton, signaling a reevaluation of the processes in place. The governor recognized the need for additional safeguards and training to ensure that cases involving domestic violence receive the thorough consideration they deserve. Shelton’s resignation, although not explicitly linked to the March incident, underscores the state’s efforts to address the shortcomings highlighted by the tragic event.
Furthermore, the incident sheds light on the complexities of parole decisions and the importance of thorough evaluation in cases involving domestic violence. The government’s swift response and commitment to improving protocols demonstrate a proactive approach to preventing similar tragedies in the future.