Man Who Is Accused Of Murdering Ex-Girlfriend’s Son Charged With Murder

A 37-year-old man was charged Friday in the fatal stabbing of 11-year-old Jayden Perkins and the stabbing of his pregnant mother.

The suspect was identified as Crosetti Brand, a convicted felon who was released on parole for the second time in five months, one day before the attack.

Investigators said the deadly stabbing happened inside the victims’ home at the Peterson Plaza apartment complex in the 5900 block of North Ravenswood Avenue.

The brand has been charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, three counts of home invasion with a dangerous weapon, armed robbery, aggravated domestic battery, unlawful use of a weapon, violation of an order of protection and a warrant was issued for a parole violation, WGNTV News reported.

Accordinng to court records, the woman was about to leave her apartment to take her two sons to school Wednesday morning. As she went to open the door, the suspect allegedly forced his way inside and began stabbing her.

According to investigators, the 11-year-old was trying to protect his mother when he was fatally stabbed in the chest. His 33-year-old mother, was also stabbed several times. She was listed in critical condition at a nearby hospital.

Officials confirmed Friday she was alert and expected to survive, along with her unborn child. The boy’s younger brother also witnessed the attack, authorities said, but was uninjured physically.

“This is something that should never had happened,” Snelling said as he began the press conference Friday.

Brand was serving a 16-year sentence in a 2015 case for home invasion, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, and aggravated domestic battery involving a different victim, according to Illinois Department of Corrections and court records.

He was released from Stateville Prison on mandatory supervised release in October 2023, the IDOC confirmed.

“At that time he received a memorandum reminding him of the order of protection regarding victim one,” Assistant State’s Attorney Anne McCord Rodgers said.

The victim reportedly dated the suspect more than 15 years prior and had an active Order of Protection against him.According to the court, the suspect allegedly texted the Mother a threatening message on Jan. 30. He then went to her home on Feb. 1, two days later, ringing the doorbell multiple times and attempting to pull the handle.

Prosecutors said the victim contacted the parole board and Brand was rearrested, but then parole weeks later on March 12, one day before the deadly attack.

According to a request for an Emergency Order of Protection filed on Feb. 21, the victim wrote that Brand “sent me several text messages saying he would kill me and my family. He would wait outside my house and shoot me. I have pics.”

A judge did not grant the request for the Emergency Order of Protection and instead scheduled a hearing on the matter on March 13, but it was already too late.

The suspect had a history of domestic violence against the victim, who violated an order of protection involving the woman three times back in 2008, a case he received a three-year sentence for in the IDOC.

During Brand’s sentencing in that case, he was served with an order of protection that listed the victim and her mother as protected parties, prosecutors said.

“When he was served with this order of protection, he ripped it up in front of a judge in open court,” McCord Rodgers said.