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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.