On the morning of March 13, 2024, 37-year-old Crosetti Brand — the mother's ex-boyfriend who had been released from prison on parole just one day earlier — forced his way into the family's Edgewater apartment in Chicago as the mother was preparing to take her children to school. Brand attacked the 33-year-old pregnant mother and her 11-year-old son, Jayden Perkins, with a knife. Jayden was stabbed in the chest while attempting to protect his mother and died at Ascension St. Francis Hospital in Evanston. His mother suffered multiple stab wounds including a cut to her neck and was in critical condition but expected to recover. The family's 5-year-old son witnessed the attack. Brand had an extensive history of domestic violence, multiple orders of protection violations, and had previously served years in prison for aggravated domestic battery and home invasion involving another ex-girlfriend. The mother had repeatedly sought legal protection from Brand, but the criminal justice system failed to keep him detained or adequately protect the family.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The medical examiner report (ME2024-01396.pdf) lists the primary cause of death as "STAB WOUND OF THE CHEST" and the manner of death as "Homicide." The CBS News article states that "Brand barged into the family's home and attacked him and his pregnant mother with a knife." The CNN article reports Brand is "accused of stabbing Laterria Smith, 33, and killing her 11-year-old son, Jayden Perkins, as the child was trying to defend her."
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Crosetti Brand, the mother's ex-boyfriend, is charged with killing Jayden. The CBS News article states: "The woman who was stabbed had a history with Crosetti dating back more than 15 years. She also has a long history of trying to protect herself from him after dating him so long ago." The Sun-Times editorial describes Brand as "her abuser's" and "her mother's ex-boyfriend." Brand is clearly a former male paramour involved in the child's death.
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The CBS News article states: "Crosetti Brand, 37, is facing charges including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, armed robbery, home invasion, and domestic battery. He made his initial court appearance on Friday." The CNN article confirms: "Brand has been charged with nine felony counts, Ursitti said, including first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder." A judge ordered Brand held behind bars.
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Domestic violence by the perpetrator (mother's ex-boyfriend Crosetti Brand) is a central theme across all news articles. The CBS News article states: "Brand has a violent history of domestic battery" and that he had "served eight and a half years in prison for aggravated domestic battery and home invasion." The Sun-Times editorial describes Brand as having "beaten her before" and the mother having tried every legal precaution to protect herself and her children. The CNN article reports Superintendent Snelling saying Brand "had previously violated protection orders. 'He has three orders of protection violations against him.'" Court records also show "orders of protection filed against him from four other women dating back to 2004" (CBS News).
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Crosetti Brand, the perpetrator and the mother's ex-boyfriend, had an extensive prior criminal history. The CBS News article states he "served eight and a half years in prison for aggravated domestic battery and home invasion" and "was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the home invasion targeting the other ex-girlfriend." He also had "orders of protection filed against him from four other women dating back to 2004." The Sun-Times editorial notes "His rap sheet included a handful of orders of protection violations." The CNN article confirms this was "his second stint on parole" and he was "still serving a 16-year sentence for home invasion where he caused injury." All of this criminal history predates the fatal incident.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Multiple significant systemic failures are documented across the sources. The Illinois Prisoner Review Board released Brand from prison on March 12, just one day before the attack, despite his extensive history of domestic violence and protection order violations. The PRB stated they "did not have any information to indicate that the victim was currently petitioning for an Order of Protection" (CNN). A Cook County judge denied the mother's emergency order of protection request on February 21 because Brand was in prison, without inquiring when he might be released; advocate Amanda Pyron noted this was "concerning" and that the release date "seems like salient information that a judge would want" (CBS News). Two PRB members resigned following the incident, including LeAnn Miller who recommended Brand's release and board chair Donald Shelton (CNN). The victim's 5-year-old son witnessed the entire attack (CBS News, CNN). The family has launched a petition for "Jayden's Law" to reform how parole boards and courts handle domestic violence cases (ABC7). Governor Pritzker stated it was "clear that evidence in this case was not given the careful consideration that victims of domestic violence deserve" (CNN). Additionally, Brand had orders of protection from four other women dating back to 2004, and an existing non-expiring order of protection was already in place for the victim, yet none of this prevented the attack (CBS News, Sun-Times).
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