Prosecutors detail disturbing story of domestic violence committed by man accused of killing 11-year-old boy

Cook County prosecutors outlined disturbing facts Monday in a domestic violence case involving a man accused of killing an 11-year-old boy earlier this year and seriously injuring his mother.

The latest revelations continue to raise questions about the state parole board’s decision to release Crosetti Brand from prison just a day before he allegedly killed Jayden Perkins and stabbed the boy’s mother.

During the trial, prosecutors alleged that Brand had made 37 harassing phone calls to Jayden’s mother during the month he was sent back to prison for allegedly violating his probation and showing up at her home.

Prosecutors asked Judge Angela Petrone to allow them to admit to phone calls and other incidents they say show an “obvious escalation of violence” before the deadly March 13 attack.

Brand, 38, is accused of waiting for the boy’s mother to open the door to take the children to school before forcing his way in and stabbing her multiple times.

When Jayden tried to help his mother, Brand allegedly stabbed him, killing the boy.

Brand was released on parole last October after serving time in a separate domestic violence case involving another woman. Jayden’s mother was notified of his release because she was listed as a previous victim of Brand’s abuse.

In late January, she received a text message from Brand in which he threatened her family, prosecutors said. Two days later, he allegedly showed up at the door of her apartment building in the 5900 block of North Ravenswood Avenue.

According to state documents, Brand initially told a parole officer he was simply looking for an apartment.

He surrendered, was sent to Stateville Correctional Center and punished for a series of alleged parole violations, including contact with a woman. Within weeks, however, the Illinois Prisoner Review Board decided to release him again when Brand denied visiting the woman’s home.

Two parole officers have resigned amid criticism from Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who said it was “clear that the evidence in this case was not considered with the due diligence that victims of domestic violence deserve.”

During a more than four-hour hearing Monday, prosecutors said they wanted to be able to present evidence and call women who could testify that they were harassed, intimidated and physically abused by Brand after they broke up with him.

Prosecutors said the women included a former girlfriend whom Brand threatened with a gun after she broke up with him in 2015. During that incident, Brand also threatened to kill her young son when he tried to intervene, then stole her car, leading to a conviction that sent him to jail until October.

Another woman, a Chicago Transit Authority employee, was harassed by Brand after they broke up. He got on her bus and then followed her to a McDonald’s, where he hit her so hard she “passed out,” prosecutors said.

He pleaded guilty to domestic assault charges and was sentenced to 100 days in Cook County Jail.

Prosecutors also want Jayden’s mother to testify about her irregular relationship with Brand, which they say began when she was a teenager and he was in his early 20s.

They want the judge to allow the woman to discuss Brand’s aggressive behavior and violations of protective orders dating back to 2006, which ranged from throwing rocks through her windows to threatening her and her mother with a gun and firing shots in the hallway of their apartment building.

Prosecutors said Brand’s criminal history showed a “very similar” pattern of harassment and violence against women he had separated from, including showing up at their homes unannounced and threatening them with a gun.

“This shows that this is an intentional act that targeted the victims,” said Assistant State’s Attorney Stephanie Gersch.

Brand, who is acting as his own attorney, asked the judge not to allow the state to use his criminal history because they are simply “accusations that can be made up.”

He also argued that admitting the evidence would be too prejudicial, saying it was “over the top.”

During Monday’s hearing, Brand struggled to articulate his arguments clearly and appeared at several points to not understand disclosure rules and trial procedures.

Petrone said she will issue a ruling at Brand’s next hearing on July 30.