MEMORIALS SENT BY ILLINOIS VICTIMS

Latrisha Pruitt

 My sister-n-law Latrisha Pruitt, 26 yr old mother of 3, was murdered 11/24/07 in her home by the father of her 18 day old daughter. He then set the house on fire, while riding around in her car with her children and her body in the trunk. He is only charged with murder (not 1 st degree, not capital). No light has been shined on the fact the he has a long violent history, and had the justice system here been in place he would have been in prison serving time, not being free to murder Latrisha Pruitt.  The offender Kortney Simon, pled guilty in 2001 to 2nd degree assault , he received 1 yr probation, in 2003 he was convicted of Domestic Violence (he beat his wife and infant daughter- which by the way we knew nothing about) he served 2 yrs and 11 months in prison. He was released from prison 04/2006 with 2 years on probation/parole. Simon was again arrested 06/2007 on probation revocation for again beating his now ex-wife. He was released 08/2007 with a no contact order. Since his 2006 release from prison, he also beat, and strangled another woman, leaving her unconscious on the side of an abandoned house, when the woman can to , she got up running down the street screaming for help. When Simon saw this he ran over her with his automobile, dragging her several hundred feet knocking her thru a fence, before fleeing the scene. He permanently paralyzed this woman for the rest of her life. Simon pled guilty and was convicted of this crime 01/2008 and is currently serving a life with parole sentence in Donaldson Correctional facility in Bessemer Alabama as he is awaiting trial for the murder of Latrisha Pruitt. What we don't understand, is that if he was on parole, when he again beat his ex-wife, why did he not go back to prison to serve out the rest of his term? Ok, well even if he didn't go back for that then why when committed the attempted murder offense why was he not sent back to prison, or at least not given a bond given his violent history? This is a complete injustice to us all. From what I understand, even had he not had such a violent past, had he never been in trouble before, the act of murdering Latrisha then setting her home on fire should make him eligible to be charged with capital murder... We are turning to you for help in this case... Please, anything you can do would be such a blessing to our family. I am her sister-n-law, I am married to her oldest brother James. We are just beside ourselves trying to get justice in her case... Latrisha's twin brother is lost without her, her children are now separated, the oldest two (ages 7 and 5 are with their father) Her newborn infant is with her brother and I... Losing her is beyond words... Latrisha was a remarkable woman in life... Latrisha was an awesome mother, sister, daughter, aunt, and friend. Latrisha would help anyone in need, and was always there for anyone who needed her. Latrisha was not the type of woman to knowingly put herself in an abusive relationship. Latrisha's smile and laughter were contagious her presence is very dearly missed. Latrisha has never been in trouble, she was a upstanding citizen, but her murderer has more rights than she does... Simon will live to see another day, he can tell his family how much he loves them, his family can visit him for an hour each week. Latrisha can't crawl out of her grave and visit with her children and family... Where is justice for the families left behind? Please help not only our family, but all the other families that served this kind of injustice for their murdered loved ones... Simon's arraignment is scheduled for March 28, 2008 ... Thank you for your time and consideration...

Christy Pruitt and Family

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