On a somber anniversary marking one year since the tragic incident that ended young Jayden Perkins's life, a lawsuit was filed by Laterria Smith, the boy's mother, as she seeks justice for her son who was killed defending her from an attack by her ex-boyfriend, Crosetti Brand. In a haunting reminiscence, Jayden's bravery is central to a legal battle now unfolding, as outlined by the Chicago Sun-Times. Smith's lawsuit alleges that the Illinois Prisoner Review Board and other enforcement agencies failed to recognize the danger Brand posed upon his release from prison just one day before he committed the fatal attack.
The lawsuit, which also implicates the Department of Corrections, the Chicago Police Department, and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, among others, charges that these entities disregarded Smith's repeated pleas for help and Brand's documented history of domestic violence and parole infractions, a narrative that bears the weight of institutional neglect as Smith was four months pregnant and already guarded by a protective order against Brand at the time of the stabbings, according to details obtained by the Sun-Times. The grievous event has since prompted resignations from two Prison Review Board members and sparked a broader discussion on the system's operations.
According to an ABC7 Chicago report, the sorrow of this case resonates deeply within the community. Friends of Perkins at his North Side dance school honored him with a dance tribute, encapsulating grief and remembrance. Smith has voiced that her action through the lawsuit is born out of a dire need for change, expressing a profound sense of negligence by the authorities who allegedly failed to consider the potential danger Brand represented before granting his parole.
Smith's attorney, Paul Otubusin, emphasized the importance of the lawsuit for systemic change, stating, "It was incumbent upon the board to at least visit that issue to see is there an active order of protection against him?" "Is there any reason why we should not release him? All those investigations were not done" in an interview with ABC7 Chicago. In honoring Jayden, the Gus Giordano Dance School unveiled a mural, inviting memories of his life, his love for dance, encapsulating the vibrancy he brought into their lives as Smith recounted the cherished activities that she now miserably misses. Brand, meanwhile, is currently facing a slew of felony counts including murder and attempted murder, with court proceedings scheduled to continue shortly.
