Joseph Greene, a LeRoy resident, told the McLean County Justice Committee that his fiancée, Brooke Powell, was killed in a Feb. 11 vehicle crash and that he and the victim’s mother were not kept informed while the case moved through the system.

"My fiancée Brooke Powell was killed in a car accident," Greene said, describing an appearance before prosecutors in which he was told "everything's gonna be okay." He added that, on a later court date, the other driver did not appear and was found guilty by default for improper lane usage and fined $1,000.

Greene said Christie Powell, the victim’s mother, "wasn't contacted at all during any of this," and that he had to notify her of her daughter's death. "She called me at like 11:00; she was in tears and was just asking me why her daughter's life was only worth a thousand dollars," he said.

Greene told the committee the case was later reopened and said he believed local connections played a role: "...because one of our state attorneys lives on Hayworth where this all occurred," he said. He said the docket was finally being scheduled for trial and urged the committee and county staff to improve communication with victims’ families.

The remarks were made during the public-comment portion of the committee meeting; no committee action followed Greene’s statement.