On March 12, 2024, Laterria Smith’s phone buzzed with a text that was, according to Cook County prosecutors, like “something out of a horror movie.”
It was an automated message from the Illinois Department of Corrections informing her that the man who had terrorized her since high school would be released from prison shortly after threatening her life, Cook County prosecutors said Monday at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.
One day later, they said, he barged into her Edgewater apartment, stabbed her 11 times and more tragically still, fatally stabbed her 11-year-old son, Jayden Perkins. The prosecutors opened their case in the trial of the alleged attacker, Crosetti Brand, 39, who is facing felony charges of murder, attempted murder, home invasion and aggravated domestic battery in slaying on March 13 of last year.
“Jayden had no idea he would soon be forced to go from an 11-year-old kid to the protector of his mother,” Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Danny Hanichak told the jurors.
Brand already had a documented history of abusing Jayden’s mother, Laterria Smith, and other women when, according to prosecutors, he forced his way into Smith’s home in the 5900 block of North Ravenswood Avenue as she was getting ready to take her children to school.
In fact, Brand had been released from prison just one day earlier, where he was sent for violating the terms of his release after Smith reported he threatened her. The controversial decision by the Illinois Prisoner Review Board led to the resignation of two members and spurred Gov. J.B. Pritzker to create a new position on the board.
Monday’s arguments marked Brand’s first test before the jury as he takes on the burden of representing himself without a licensed attorney present. In a very short opening argument, Brand said he was defending himself when Jayden was killed and his mother was injured. He read Illinois’ self-defense statute to the jury and said: “self defense is not a crime.”
Brand’s unusual decision to forgo counsel has meant the trial is taking place much more quickly than is typical for murder cases, as he made use of his right to a speedy trial. But it has also caused headaches in the courtroom, as he has often appeared to misunderstand courtroom procedure and legal principles.
Brand frequently objected as Hanichak delivered his statement.
“The evidence is overwhelming that Laterria Smith is a survivor,” Hanichak said. “The evidence is overwhelming that Jayden Perkins is a hero.”
As the parties picked a jury on Friday, his odd approach was already on display, as he swore under oath to having a conversation with an apparently deceased witness and asked the judge to question jurors about whether they had read thrillers by James Patterson or Michael Connelly.
Around 7:45 a.m., Smith, was on the phone with her mother when Brand forced his way inside as she unlocked her front door getting ready to leave. On the other end of the phone call, Smith’s mother heard her yell “No C.O.” as she was attacked, referring to Brand’s nickname, prosecutors said.
Jayden was stabbed as he tried to help his mother, who survived the attack.
Smith, who was engaged to someone else, was in a romantic relationship with Brand more than 15 years ago. Brand has racked up multiple convictions for battering her, threatening her and her mother and violating orders of protection, court records show.
He has also been convicted of battering other women.
In 2013, Brand pleaded guilty to charges of domestic battery for punching a woman, who had recently ended a relationship with him, hard enough to knock her unconscious and leave her bleeding from the mouth.
Later, he was sentenced to 16 years in prison in a November 2015 attack on another woman, who had recently ended a relationship with him, according to court documents. He also threatened her son when he tried to intervene.
Brand was released from prison in October 2023, and according to prosecutors, resumed his harassment of Smith. In the weeks proceeding the attack, he sent her a text message threatening her and her family and showed up at her apartment.
He rang the doorbell multiple times and tried to pull the door handle out of the door, prosecutors have said. Smith contacted the parole board, and he was sent back to prison.
But the Illinois Prisoner Review Board ordered Brand’s release. The next day, prosecutors alleged, he returned to Smith’s apartment for the fatal attack.