Fox News anchor Dana Perino has broken down in tears following an interview with an Illinois woman whose 18-month-old son was shot dead by her estranged husband.
The heart-wrenching interview was conducted by Perino, 48, during Thursday’s edition of America’s Newsroom.
Perino was discussing Illinois Governor Jay Pritzker’s recent decision to end cash bail for pretrial detainees, before she conducted a remote interview with Cassandra Tanner Miller.
Cassandra told Perino that, in September 2019, her estranged husband, Christopher Michael Miller, broke into her home in Joliet, Illinois while he was out on an ‘I-bond’ while awaiting trial on three counts of aggravated felony battery.
‘For those that don’t know what an I-bond is, it’s a no cash bail bond,’ Cassandra explained.
Cassandra then horrifically recounted how she was brutally beaten by Christopher before he pulled out a gun and fatally shot their 18-month-old son ten times before turning the gun on himself.
Fox News anchor Dana Perino has broken down in tears following an interview with an Illinois woman whose 18-month-old son was shot dead by her estranged husband
Back in September 19, 18-month-old Colton Miller was shot dead by his father Christopher, who was out on an ‘I-bond’ at the time while awaiting a court appearance
On that fateful day, Cassandra was at home with baby Colton and her older child, nine-year-old daughter, Camryn.
‘I went into my kitchen and my estranged husband was standing at my back door,’ Cassandra began.
‘He said “Are you all ready to die?” He began punching me, beating me, strangling me over and over again,’ she stated.
‘I yelled to my daughter to go get my son and don’t stop for anything, but my estranged husband dragged me in front of the stairs [to the second floor] blocking any exit they would have had.
‘After he thought he killed me, he walked up the stairs pulled out a gun and asked my daughter if she was having fun yet.’
Cassandra went on to explained that her estranged spouse Christopher then shot Colton dead, before he attacked young Camryn and tried to throw her over a second floor railing.
At that point, Cassandra was able to crawl up the stairs and distract her husband, allowing her daughter to escape.
Christopher subsequently turned the gun on himself.
Cassandra told Perino that, in September 2019, her estranged husband, Christopher Michael Miller, broke into her home in Joliet, Illinois while he was out on an ‘I-bond’ while awaiting trial on three counts of aggravated felony battery. Cassandra and Christopher are pictured in happier times
Christopher killed his son, Colton, as he napped in an upstairs bedroom. The father and son are pictured together
Cassandra was brutally beaten by her estranged husband. She is pictured with injuries she sustained after the September 2019 tragedy
Cassandra has now become an outspoken opponent of eliminating cash bail, and met with Gov Pritzker urging him not to push through the legislation – which he eventually did this week.
‘He absolutely let me down. I made a plea to him prior to him signing this bill and to hold off and to actually think about victims,’ Cassandra stated.
‘He completely failed the entire domestic violence community,’ she added.
The harrowing story was too much for Perino to take, and her composure cracked after she ended the interview.
‘I don’t think I’ve ever cried on TV. That was really hard,’ Perino sobbed to Fox News colleague Trace Gallagher as she crossed to him at the conclusion of her program.
The harrowing story was too much for Perino to take, and her composure cracked after she ended the interview
‘I don’t think I’ve ever cried on TV. That was really hard,’ Perino sobbed to Fox News colleague Trace Gallagher as she crossed to him as she concluded her program
‘Her story is replicated [everywhere]’, Perino stated.
‘I understand that there is concern that cash bail has hurt segments of the population. There is concern that minorities are hurt more. But we have to think about these victims,’ she implored.
On Monday, Illinois’ Democratic Governor Pritzker signed sweeping reforms making Illinois the first state to end cash bail.
Some claim cash bail disproportionately effects people of color, as they are less likely to have access to money to post bond.
The law will not come into effect for several years but it has been slammed by Republicans and law enforcement officials .
‘The governor is willfully undermining public safety – endangering citizens, emboldening criminals,’ Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy said
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs a sweeping criminal justice reform bill into law during a ceremony at Chicago State University on the South Side, Monday