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ISP agent disciplined over Logan Co. murder case on leave
By Edith Brady-Lunny
eblunny@pantagraph.com
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SPRINGFIELD — An Illinois State Police agent who was the target of criticism and disciplinary action for her handling of a Logan County murder case was placed on paid leave in July pending an investigation.

Special Agent Cynthia Robbins was placed on indefinite paid leave, according to a statement from State Police Director Larry Trent to agency staff.

State Police spokesman Master Sgt. Brian Ley declined to discuss specifics of the pending investigation involving Robbins.

He could not confirm media reports that the probe involves Robbins’ relationship with her former supervisor, Lt. Carlo Jiannoni.

“This is an ongoing investigation. It will be very thorough because it involves someone’s career,” he said.

Robbins was disciplined by the state police in 2005 for her handling of an interrogation of Louis Russo, a father accused of the fatal beating of his infant daughter.

A Logan County judge ruled Robbins and Special Agent Rebecca DeWitt-Early violated Russo’s constitutional right to have an attorney present during questioning.

Testimony in a May 2004 hearing in the Russo matter pointed to a romantic relationship between Robbins and Jiannoni. He was responsible for assigning Robbins to the murder case.

Logan County State’s Attorney Tim Huyett joined Russo’s defense lawyer in criticizing the agents’ handling of the interview with Russo. The prosecutor asked that state police officials include written reprimands in the agent’s personnel files.

Russo pleaded guilty in December 2005 and was sentenced to 40 years in prison.

A grand jury scheduled to consider the Logan County case involving the two special agents was dismissed after the women accepted administrative sanctions.

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Reader comments on this story - 2 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Chelly wrote on Aug 30, 2007 8:41 AM:

" To Junior she has been an investigator for quite a while. I had the pleasure of dealing with her regarding a case in Springfield in 1996. So unless she has been sleeping with him for 11 yrs now I dont think that stroy would fly. "

Junior wrote on Aug 30, 2007 7:46 AM:

" let's see...before being promoted to special agent she was a trooper who wrote speeding tickets all day...I can't imagine something like this would happen...let real cops handle the real cases "
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