Crime

Madison County state’s attorney opposes Paula Sims’ parole. Here’s his letter to the board

In this 1999 file photo, Madison County sheriff’s deputies lead Paula Sims away from a Madison County courtroom in shackles after a hearing in Edwardsville.
In this 1999 file photo, Madison County sheriff’s deputies lead Paula Sims away from a Madison County courtroom in shackles after a hearing in Edwardsville. AP

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Paula Sims coverage

Here’s the BND’s coverage leading up to the parole hearing for Paula Sims:


Paula Sims was a household name in the metro-east in 1990, when she was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of her 6-week-old daughter, Heather Sims, the year before. She later admitted to the 1986 killing of her other daughter, 13-day-old Loralei Sims.

Paula Sims has been in prison for more than 30 years. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker commuted her life sentence in March, making her parole-eligible for the first time.

Her attorney, Jed Stone, will argue at a Springfield hearing on Thursday that Sims, 62, committed the crimes while suffering from postpartum psychosis, a rare mental illness that causes some new mothers to experience delusions, hallucinations and paranoia.

Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine opposes parole for Sims. He sent the following letter to the Illinois Prisoner Review Board to make his case:

Parole Objection - Paula Sims B07074 by Kavahn Mansouri on Scribd

This story was originally published October 26, 2021 at 11:35 AM.

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Paula Sims coverage

Here’s the BND’s coverage leading up to the parole hearing for Paula Sims: