Death Penalty Sought In Killing Of Bradley Police Sergeant

BRADLEY, IL — Prosecutors will seek the death penalty in the killing of Bradley Police Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic, who was named Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in 2020 and believed her "job was about making her community safe for everyone," Bradley police said Monday.

Rittmanic was killed, and her partner, Officer Tyler Bailey, was critically wounded, Thursday after responding to a report of barking dogs left unattended in a vehicle outside a hotel, police said.

Kankakee County prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for both Darius Sullivan, 25, and Xandria Harris, 26, who face multiple felonies in connection with the incident they say left Rittmanic "desperately pleading for her life," NBC Chicago reported.

Since Illinois is not a death penalty state, Kankakee County State's Attorney Jim Rowe submitted a request to the U.S. Attorney's Office to pursue a federal death sentence for both defendants, according to ABC Chicago.

Rittmanic and Bailey were shot as they attempted to speak with the dog owners at a Comfort Inn in Bradley just before 10 p.m. Thursday. After a hotel employee gave Rittmanic and Bailey the room number for the dog owner, prosecutors said the officers knocked on the door multiple times, with Bailey identifying themselves as police, and Harris responding several times that she was coming out.

Prosecutors said Harris eventually attempted to squeeze through the door and shut it behind her to prevent the officers from arresting Sullivan, who had an outstanding warrant.

As Harris struggled with the officers, who tried to remove her from the doorway, prosecutors said Sullivan came around a corner in the hotel room with a gun and shot Bailey in the head, according to NBC.

Prosecutors said Sullivan shot at Rittmanic as she attempted to retreat before chasing her down the hallway and calling to Harris to help him disarm her.

Rowe said an already wounded Rittmanic pleaded with the pair not to kill her, ABC reported.

As the fatal shots were fired with her own gun, Rowe said, "Sgt. Rittmanic was pleading with them to just leave, 'you don't have to do this, please just go. Please don't. Please don't ... She was pleading for her life."

Prosecutors said Harris' two children were in the hotel room when Rittmanic and Bailey were shot.

Sullivan remains in Indiana, where he was apprehended after the shooting, and is fighting extradition to Illinois, prosecutors said. Harris turned herself in the day after the shooting.

Funeral for Rittmanic set

Rittmanic, a 21-year veteran of law enforcement who served as an Iroquois County deputy and a Bradley police officer, is survived by her wife, Lyn Stua, of Kankakee; father James Rittmanic of Naperville, as well as five sisters, a brother and several "extremely loved, cherished and close nieces and nephews," according to her obituary.

She and her wife were avid dog rescuers, and "Marlene and Lyn have loved Mickey, Valentine, Samantha, Boo, Sophia, Trigger and Abeline," her obituary read.

She was also a published poet, amateur photographer and film producer for family events, according to Bradley police, who paid tribute to Rittmanic on Monday.

Marlene believed in people and her ability to speak to the community with respect; meet them where they are in life; try to understand their true needs; and work together to find a solution that produced the least disruption in people’s lives. To her — the job was about making her community safe for everyone, she believed — and stated, “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” Meaning — if you have statutory grounds to arrest a person, tow their car, or fine them, doesn’t mean you should. If she pulled over a single mother without a $1 to her name but clearly had violations, she would consider the long-term consequences of creating more debt to someone that is already impoverished. She was awarded Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in 2020 — just to drive home the type of Police Officer she really was.

Visitation is scheduled for 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 6, at Olivet Nazarene University in the Hawkins Centennial Chapel, 1 University Ave. in Bourbonnais. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 7, at Hawkins Centennial Chapel, followed by a law enforcement procession to Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood.

The public is encouraged to line the procession route to show support. Interment will be private.

Memorials in her honor may be made to the Marlene Rittmanic Memorial Fund at Federated Bank in Bradley. Residents can also donate to the Tyler Bailey Support Fund at any Federated Bank.

The Rittmanic family is not using any online fundraisers, police said, but a GoFundMe has been set up for the Bailey family.