Gerald Reed, a man who once faced a seemingly perpetual incarceration, is now grappling with the prospect of a retrial for a 1990 double homicide—despite his life sentence having been commuted by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. As reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, Reed was released from Stateville Correctional Center three years ago after Governor Pritzker intervened, citing health concerns amidst the pandemic. However, a special Cook County prosecutor is to actively endeavor to bring Reed to trial once more for the deaths of Pamela Powers and Willie Williams.
The complexity of Reed's legal situation has been underscored by his attorney, Elliot Zinger, who described it as "a very weird legal situation." After a judicial roller coaster that saw his conviction vacated, reinstated, and vacated again, Reed is scheduled to stand trial on April 15 before Cook County Judge Steven Watkins. Yet, according to Zinger, even if convicted, Reed "can't do one more day in prison because the governor already pronounced he did the time for the crime," indicating an unusual legal conundrum.
This forthcoming trial features further twists, with prosecutors seeking to preemptively strike any invocation of Jon Burge or officers under his command, as well as the term "torture." Reed’s confessions, which he claims were the result of coercion by detectives working for the infamous Burge, have been ruled inadmissible. Nonetheless, Zinger is fighting to include Burge's legacy of torture in the trial narrative. In support of Reed's innocence, Zinger also notes that two witnesses have withdrawn their original testimonies implicating Reed in the murders, as they were reportedly procured under duress.
On the personal front, as detailed by an ABC7 Chicago report, Reed's release was a poignant moment, marked by a tearful reunion with his 78-year-old mother, Armanda Shackelford, who had fought tirelessly for his exoneration. "Whatever day he's coming home! That's the thing! He's coming home!" declared Shackelford, in a statement that showcased the culmination of her unwavering campaign for her son's freedom. Reed, now adjusting to life outside prison, is set to reside with family in Naperville and is resolved to clear his name entirely.
The special prosecutor in Reed's case, Robert J. Milan, has expressed disappointment at the governor's commutation decision, emphasizing the unresolved grief of the victims' families. "On behalf of murdered victims Pamela Powers, Willie Williams, and their loved ones, we are very disappointed by Governor Pritzker's actions today," Milan told ABC7 Chicago. He also criticized the lack of notification from the Governor's Office regarding the commutation. The trial's outcome remains to be seen, but for Reed, the ongoing battle for vindication marks yet another chapter in a life already deeply scarred by the justice system's ambiguities.
