Guilty verdict in trial of man accused of fatally stabbing 11-year-old Jayden Perkins

CHICAGO — Cook County jurors returned a verdict Thursday evening in the murder trial of Crosetti Brand, finding the 39-year-old guilty on all counts.

Brand was convicted of stabbing 11-year-old Jayden Perkins to death in front of his pregnant mother, Laterria Smith. 

Perkins’ family was quiet in the courtroom as the jury foreman read each guilty count, but they cheered and hugged as soon as they walked out the door.

“I’m feeling good justice has been done. That’s all we wanted was justice. We got it, so we happy about it,” Titus Washington, Smith’s uncle, said. “We have our good days, we have our bad days because we think about [Jayden]. We think about Jayden all the time.”

Jury deliberations lasted less than 90 minutes after both prosecutors and the defense presented their closing arguments over the past two days. Jurors listened to more than three hours of closing arguments, which caused Smith and loved ones to step out as heartbreaking details were shared.

The 39-year-old was also convicted of attacking his ex-girlfriend, Smith, who was pregnant at the time. Prosecutors now say Smith was three months along when the incident occurred. Brand was also charged with stabbing Smith’s 11-year-old son, Jayden Perkins, to death.

After weeks of testimony from witnesses, Brand took the stand on Monday, testifying in his own defense.

During his testimony, Brand – who represented himself – told the court he and Smith got into an argument that turned physical when Smith allegedly grabbed two knives. Brand claims that while Perkins tried to help his mom, she accidentally stabbed the boy instead of stabbing Brand.

The attack happened last year on March 13 inside Smith’s Edgewater apartment.

“[Perkins was] murdered while he was defending his family. His mother was also a victim where she was stabbed 15 times, but she was probably more victimized knowing her child had just been killed,” Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke said.

Prosecutors argued that Brand was out of prison for just one day and wasn’t supposed to be in contact with Smith because of an active order of protection. Attorneys say at 6:17 p.m., minutes after his release, Brand called Smith multiple times from a blocked number. 

Prosecutors also laid out a timeline of the events. At 9:39 p.m., the state claims Brand ordered an Uber to Smith’s Edgewater apartment complex, arriving at 10:10 p.m. and waiting until the next morning to break into Smith’s apartment and allegedly stab her and her son.

Prosecutors said evidence, including text messages, indicated that Brand intended to kill Smith. After the attack, they say the defendant took the Red Line from the North Side to the South Side. Once he got to 47^th Street, prosecutors said he got in touch with his mom, asking her to bring him a change of clothing and throwing the former ones in a recycling bin. 

Brand maintained that the act was self-defense. The jury, however, did not believe his argument and found him guilty on all counts, including first-degree murder, attempted murder and domestic battery.

A few weeks ago, Smith shared her side of the story, saying Brand forced his way into the home, stabbing her.

Brand faced 17 charges, including first-degree murder and domestic battery. He is due back in court on June 30.

The case led to the resignations of two members of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board and the appointment of a new executive director.