Brittany Stiso scanned the Will County courtroom Thursday before her eyes settled on Jacob Bean. Her statement to the judge, heavy with the pain of losing her father, came as Bean awaited sentencing for aggravated battery.
“I was at every court date. Not once, did Jacob Bean ever say I’m sorry. All he did was grimace and stare at me,” Stiso said, looking directly at Bean.
Bean was convicted in July of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm and aggravated battery in a public place in connection with the 2022 death of 59-year-old New Lenox resident Frank Stiso in Tinley Park.
Will County Judge Carmen Goodman sentenced Bean to two years in prison and fined him $25,000.
Brittany, Stiso’s oldest daughter, was employed at the Tinley Park Police Department until the death of her father made her give up her position, she said.
“It was too much for me to take,” she said. “I didn’t want to be reminded every day of what a horrific tragedy my dad endured.”
Frank Stiso was delivering pizzas in Tinley Park May 29, 2022, because he was a busybody looking to get out of the house, Brittany said.
Bean was backing out of a driveway on the 8600 block of Brookside Glen Drive when Stiso, driving straight, had to swerve to avoid a collision with Bean’s car, prosecutors said.
Stiso stopped his car a few doors down, got out of the vehicle and verbally assaulted Bean, yelling profanities at him, they said. The argument escalated and Bean pushed Stiso, causing him to hit his head on the pavement, prosecutors said.
Frank Stiso was taken to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox and later pronounced brain dead.
“This is not the way my dad’s life’s supposed to end,” Britany said.
Bean told Goodman he feels remorse for his role and regrets taking part in the argument.
“There’s not a day that goes by that what happened on that day doesn’t play out through my mind,” Bean said. “I just wish I could go back and change the outcome of what happened on that day.”
Other members of Stiso’s family shared how their lives were changed.
Stiso’s partner, Lina Glazer, said she lost the person she was to spend the rest of her life with.
“His loss has shattered my life and left me to navigate a future that feels uncertain alone. I miss him everyday,” she said.
Stiso’s sons, Frank Stiso Jr. and Dominic Stiso, also shared statements.
Dominic, the youngest, has autism and said his father was instrumental in helping him manage his anxiety.
“Since his passing, the world feels different and far more unsafe,” he said. “My anxiety and depression have increased and, despite years of counseling, the pain remains overwhelming.”
Goodman said she took into account Bean’s age, the fact he doesn’t have a criminal history, that he regrets what he did and also has “glowing” recommendations from neighbors. However, she said she also considered the profound impact Stiso’s death had on his family and the significant force Bean must have used to cause the death from just a push.
“You had a disregard when you decided to use such force. It was great enough to take a man’s life away,” Goodman said. “That anger was uncalled for on that particular day. I can’t imagine just the tip of what the family has been going through. This was clearly a tragedy.”
Goodman granted a temporary stay on Bean’s sentence at the request of his attorney, Jordan Kielian, while he seeks an appeal.
Kielian said he does not believe the push, which resulted from an altercation, warrants jail time because Stiso willingly engaged in the argument. Prosecutors said Bean walked away multiple times before coming back to push Stiso.
Frank Stiso Jr. listed his father’s closest family members in his statement.
“I want you to remember these names, to ingrain them in your mind and recognize what you have taken from us,” he told Bean. “I harbor no hatred or malice towards you. Instead, I feel pity for someone who allowed their emotions to spiral so out of control that they committed such an unimaginable act. Because of you, someone who meant so much to all of us is gone.”
smoilanen@chicagotribune.com
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