The spouse of a slain Illinois police officer requested for justice and made a vow of vengeance in opposition to the profession prison and his girlfriend who shot and killed the officer.
Tons of of Illinois cops gathered on the funeral for Bradley Police Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic on Friday morning, who will probably be laid to relaxation days after she was gunned down along with her personal weapon by Darius Sullivan, 25.
Rittmanic, 49, was shot by Sullivan on the Consolation Inn in Bradley, Illinois, after she and her associate – who’s presently within the hospital with gunshot injures to the top – responded to a name concerning Sullivan’s barking canines on December 30.
The funeral service for Rittmanic, a veteran of the pressure for 14 years, was held on the Hawkins Centennial Chapel at Olivet Nazarene College, with a 35 minute procession following to the Abraham Lincoln Nationwide Cemetery, the place she will probably be laid to relaxation.
In a tearful eulogy for her spouse, Lyn Stua, cried and mentioned she was offended at Sullivan and his girlfriend, Xandria Harris, 26, who allegedly helped the profession prison kill Rittmanic.
‘She was my soulmate… and I vow swift justice and vengeance’ Stua mentioned about Sullivan and Harris, who might face the demise penalty for Rittmanic’s homicide.
‘They didn’t respect life, and our lives have been turned the wrong way up and hopelessly damaged.’

Lyn Stua (left) delivered the eulogy for her spouse, Marlene Rittmanic, who was shot to demise on December 30


Rittmanic died after she and her associate responded to a name at Consolation Inn in Bradley, Illinois. After they arrived at Darius Sullivan and his pregnant girlfriend’s door, the place Sullivan allegedly shot her associate within the head and chased Rittmanic down the corridor and shot her a number of occasions whereas she begged for her life. She is pictured (proper) along with her spouse and rescue canines

Tons of of officers stood in solidarity of Stua (in white) as Bradley Deputy Police Chief Craig Anderson (on stage) mentioned that they’d at all times stand by her and their slain comrade

Illinois officers gathered on the Hawkins Centennial Chapel at Olivet Nazarene College to pay tribute to the slain officer

Tons of of officers made their strategy to the chapel for the funeral, which was adopted by a procession to the Abraham Lincoln Nationwide Cemetery
As she cried and completed the eulogy, Stua mentioned: ‘Marlene Rittmanic, you’re my entire cause for residing. You might be my hero, and my coronary heart is empty with out you. Relaxation in peace, my love.’
Bradley Deputy Police Chief Craig Anderson and Rittmanic’s niece, Katie, described the slain officer as a Marvel Girl who cared deeply about her household, pals and neighborhood.
Anderson mentioned Marlene was one of many division’s finest officers, who at all times dreamed about making her neighborhood a greater place.
‘She was the kind who taught she might repair individuals. That included even the criminals she arrested. She believed everybody deserves a second probability,’ Anderson mentioned.
‘The end up will not be solely a tribute to Marlene’s public service, however an acknowledgement of the wonderful particular person she was. It stands as a testomony of the affect she had on the individuals she got here involved every single day.’
The Bradley Police Division and Kankakee County Sheriff’s Workplace described Rittmanic as a hero who She was well-known for her management in Bradley and had obtained the police division’s Officer of the Yr award in 2020.
She was survived by her spouse, Lyn Stua, her father James Rittmanic, sisters Kimberly Organ, Christina O’Connor, Kathleen Emme, Colleen Welch and brother James Rittmanic.

Rittmanic’s niece, Katie, described her aunt as a Marvel Girl who handled her like a daughter

Bradley Deputy Police Chief Craig Anderson mentioned Marlene was one of many division’s finest officers, who at all times dreamed about making her neighborhood a greater place

Officers from the Kankakee Sheriff’s Workplace lined as much as assist lead the procession to the cemetery

Flags have been put up outdoors the chapel for the officer’s wake on Thursday and funeral Friday

Family members gathered on the personal funeral for Rittmanic, who was allegedly killed by a profession prison who had been arrested 21 occasions and had an lively arrest warrant when he shot the officer along with her personal gun
‘She was a form soul,’ mentioned Sgt. Anderson mentioned in the course of the officer’s wake on Thursday evening. ‘Marlene at all times had the view of individuals. She believed the most effective of everyone.’
Household and fellow division officers informed NBC 5 in a press release: ”Our world has been turned the wrong way up, obliterated and hopelessly damaged.’
They went on to thank those that ‘have affectionately gone out of their means to assist us get by way of probably the most pointless, heartbreaking, painful, deplorable, tragic lack of our lives.’
‘We’re perpetually indebted to all of you and thanks from the underside of our hearts,’ the assertion learn.
Rittmanic and associate Tyler Bailey knocked on the door of their room on the Consolation Inn for 14 minutes earlier than Harris – Sullivan’s pregnant girlfriend – cracked the door open, solely sufficient to slide by way of whereas nonetheless defending Sullivan inside.

Officers additionally attended a wake for the slain officer on Thursday evening on the chapel

A former officer wore a button with Rittmanic’s face on it to the visitation on Thursday evening

The solemn ceremony allowed Illinois, Kankakee and Bradley Cops to see their fellow officer one final time

Bradley Police Deputy Chief Craig Anderson described Rittmanic as a hero who was honored by the division in 2020
The 2 cops have been responding to a name in regards to the couple’s barking canines which they’d left of their automobile within the car parking zone of the motel however Sullivan is the topic of a number of arrest warrants.
When he lastly swung the door open, Sullivan was brandishing a 9mm handgun, prosecutors say
He first shot Bailey within the head then chased Rittmanic down the corridor and shot her in a number of occasions whereas she lay on the bottom begging for her life, it’s alleged.
He and Harris then went on the run. They have been arrested on December 31 and at the moment are each going through the demise penalty.
Bailey was additionally shot within the head however he survived and was taken to the hospital the place he stays. In a press release final evening, his household mentioned he’s ‘removed from out of the woods’.
‘Whereas we aren’t ready to enter particular particulars in regards to the severity of Tyler’s situation, we are able to actually say that with out the surgical intervention, Tyler wouldn’t have survived the rest of the day on December 30.
‘After the process, we’re cautiously optimistic about starting discussions for Tyler’s restoration over the quick time period, though he’s removed from out of the woods at this level.
‘For the reason that surgical procedure, Tyler has continued to struggle for his life. He’s secure however stays in very vital situation,’ they mentioned within the assertion that was issued on-line by Illinois State Police.
There’s rising fury about the truth that Sullivan, who has been arrested 21 occasions since 2014, was even on the road.


Darius Sullivan began taking pictures on the two officers as quickly as his pregnant girlfriend Xandria Harris opened the door of their resort room. The pair now face the demise penalty. The cops had been referred to as as a result of they’d left their canines of their automobile and the animals have been barking

Sullivan’s rap sheet begins in June 2014, when he was 19 years outdated
He was the topic of an arrest warrant for battery courting again to final Might, however it’s unclear what the main points of that case are.
Prosecutors are demanding that the pair be sentenced to demise for the ‘chilly blooded’ homicide of Sergeant Rittmanic.
They’ve been charged by state prosecutors up to now, who can’t search the demise penalty in state court docket as a result of Illinois has no demise penalty.
Federal prosecutors can nevertheless search it as a punishment if they carry expenses in opposition to the pair. It stays to be seen if that may occur.
The state’s case will go to a grand jury on January 22.
The subsequent court docket look for both of the pair is on January 27, when Harris is due earlier than a choose.