I had the opportunity to ride along with Bonita Cornute to Bellville, Illinois. We are covering a hearing in the matter of Tiffany Hall. She is charged with five counts of first degree murder in the deaths of her friend Jimella Tunstall, her three children and her unborn child.
As I walk down the narrow hallway toward courtroom 409, I see three women sitting in the hard, blue plastic chairs along the wall. They appear to be uncomfortable. I sit three chairs down from them. Their quiet talking turns to whispers. I can hear them discussing the probable outcome of today's hearing. They hope this will be the last time they have to attend anything. They know she will be pleading guilty to all charges. The women are relatives of Jimella Tunstall, on her father's side of the family.
As the minutes pass, the hall begins to fill with detectives from East St. Louis and Illinois State Patrol. Family members and media also arrive. Anticipation is building as the clock ticks closer to 10:35 am.
The doors open and we all file in. The courtroom walls are covered in oak-colored wood paneling. There are four rows of red chairs that quickly fill with observers. More chairs are being brought in to accommodate people.
A small woman comes in with someone at her side supporting her weight. She is wearing a brown multi-colored print top, long pleated black skirt and her shoes are in her hand. Her eyes are swollen and she sits in the chair in front of me. She is the mother of Jimella Tunstall.
A large woman enters the room with a bailiff and two attorneys. She is wearing a big, yellow St. Clair county jumpsuit. Her hair is pulled back stretching her already enormous eyes into a surprised expression. She walks slowly with her hands cuffed in a device that has a padlock attached to it. She gazes across the entire courtroom into the rows of chairs. It seems like an eternity before she rounds the end of the table. I try to meet her eyes. When I finally get a chance, they are empty. She is Tiffany Hall.
The hearing begins on time. Judge Milton Wharton begins with the announcement of a plea agreement. In order to avoid the death penalty, Tiffany Hall will plead guilty on all charges and will receive natural life in prison, without the possibility of parole.
During the reading of all charges the mother of Jimella Tunstall plugs her ears with her fingers. I can't help but be distracted by the mother's emotion. Her carbon beaded necklace rolls up and down as her neck muscles tremble. She eventually is overcome with emotion and leaves the courtroom. She returns a few minutes later. Throughout the experience I am distracted by my own thoughts.
"How could she do this to her friend"
"Why did she take those children"
"I want to leave"
"I want to tell this mother how sorry I am"
"She is so much bigger than those kids"
"She is a monster"
I am overwhelmed by the details of the murders. I want to get up and go into the hall. This crime is senseless.
Tiffany Hall lured her friend to the basement of her mother's home. She hit her in the head rendering her unconscious, then bound her arms and legs. She carried her to a bathtub, took a sharp object and cut the baby from Jimella. She left Jimella Tunstall's body in an area of high weeds behind her mother's home. She admitted to plotting on her friend for sometime and to buying a nasal syringe and alcohol for the delivery.
The baby is lifeless upon delivery. She takes the baby to a state park and calls police. She claims someone raped her and caused her to deliver her baby. She refuses an exam from a doctor and a rape kit.
Three days later she goes to Jimella Tunstall's boyfriend's home who has her three kids. She admits to lying to him to get the kids by telling him that Jimella said to give her the kids and her car. She takes the children to the same bathtub that she murdered Jimella in and drowns all three children. She admits to having to coerce the oldest son by telling him it was time for his bath. She takes the children to her own apartment and puts their bodies in the washer and dryer.
When asked if she understands what natural life in prison means to her, she replies "I will never get out." That seems too good for her.
Judge Wharton goes down the list of charges and asks her how she pleas.
"Guilty," "Guilty," "Guilty," "Guilty," ..."Guilty."
Four life sentences + 60 years and the sentences will run concurrently. She is asked to give a statement and she declines.
I was a little dissatisfied with the outcome. I thought the family would be able to give a statement to her. It felt a bit unfinished.
This was a great opportunity. I learned that a news reporter has a tough job. They can't allow their emotions to overcome them. Bonita Cornute is a great reporter and quite the professional.
