Illinois Biggest Offenders Newsletter

              FEATURED STATES ATTORNEY’S
A multitude of challenges arise while
prosecuting fatality cases. One challenge is
determining how best to present the case
to prove the defendant guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt. The Shai-Tan Cook and
Justin Taylor cases, stemming from the crash
that killed Illinois State Trooper Brian McMillen,
were particularly challenging because they
involved complicated and technical issues.
Cook and Taylor, who were driving separate
vehicles, were two independent forces in
the crash which caused McMillen’s death.
Evidence obtained through retrograde
extrapolation, a method used to determine the
amount of alcohol in a person’s system at a
given point in time, revealed that both Cook
and Taylor were driving under the influence
at the time of the crash. Additionally, ISP lab
testing indicated Cook also had ecstasy and
ketamine in his system. Cook was the second
driver to hit McMillen’s squad car, and he did so while driving the speed limit
in his own lane of traffic. The challenge was to convince the jury that Cook
had a duty to pull over as McMillen’s squad car approached, with lights and
siren activated, and the fact that Cook was under the influence of alcohol and
drugs interfered with his ability to do so. During trial, a crash reconstruction
officer explained the physics involved, including the locations and speeds of
the vehicles involved in the fatal crash. Then, through computer animation, we
were able to visually demonstrate the crash to the jury.
A jury convicted Cook, and Taylor pled guilty. This outcome would not have
been possible without the immediate and professional response of the Illinois
State Police, who gathered evidence and presented it to the State’s Attorney’s
Office. The hard work of all involved came together in bringing Cook and Taylor
to justice.
John Milhiser
First Assistant State’s Attorney
Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office
Jennifer Kuntz
Assistant State’s Attorney
Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office
DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this
newsletter is a matter of public
record. Individuals charged with
criminal offenses are presumed
innocent until proven guilty in a
court of law.
Division of Traffic Safety
1340 North 9th Street
Springfield, IL 62702
Summer
2010