Man sentenced to 75 years for murder of high school classmate
A suburban man was sentenced to 75 years in prison for sexually assaulting and killing a 15-year-old honor student and classmate and later dumping her body in a wooded area in the south suburbs in 2008, according to Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.
Timothy Easley, 24, of Sauk Village, was convicted by a jury in January of First Degree Murder and Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault for sexually assaulting and strangling honor student Brashai Griffin, and then leaving her body in a creek in a secluded area in south suburban Sauk Village. Both Easley and the victim attended Bloom Trail High School.
According to prosecutors, on April 2, 2008 at approximately 6:30 p.m., the victim left her home in Sauk Village to meet the defendant. Earlier that day, the victim told other students at Bloom Trail that she was planning to meet Easley that night. When the victim’s mother came home around 10:30 p.m., she contacted police because her daughter was not home. Police and local search teams looked for the 15-year-old victim for almost 48 hours.
On April 4, 2008, investigators discovered a body in a wooded area near 223rd Street and Torrence Avenue in Sauk Village. The body, found submerged in water, was later identified as the victim, Brashai Griffin. An autopsy revealed that the victim had been strangled and sexually assaulted and the death was ruled a homicide. DNA taken from the victim during the autopsy was later matched to the defendant’s DNA.
Cook County Judge Luciano Panici imposed the 75 year sentence during a court appearance today at the Markham Courthouse.
State’s Attorney Alvarez thanked Assistant State’s Attorneys Nicholas D’Angelo and Torrie Corbin for handling this case. She also thanked the Sauk Village Police Department for their assistance.
