A McDonough County judge sentenced a Macomb woman to what amounts to time served for the February 7, 2023, stabbing death of her husband.
Judge Nigel Graham sentenced Portia Garrison, now 30, to four years in prison. She is required to serve 50% of the sentence, with credit for the 844 days she has already served in the McDonough County jail.
She was also ordered to pay $9,762 in restitution to the family of the victim, Ricky Haymer, 27.
Defense attorney Kurt Dittmer of Rasmussen and Dittmer, LLC in La Harpe said Garrison will essentially just be checked in and out of the Illinois Department of Corrections.
He called the case a tragedy, and said he is satisfied with the sentence.
“My client’s been in jail for two years waiting for this. I think the judge was fair,” Dittmer said.
‘I’m hurt that he’s gone’
Garrison was originally charged with first-degree murder. She pleaded guilty to an amended charge of second-degree murder in March 2025.
She took the stand during Friday’s sentencing hearing.
Garrison said she had an on-and-off, tumultuous relationship with Haymer that sometimes became physically violent.
However, Garrison told the court that she wished Haymer was still alive. She said their children need a father.
“I’m hurt that he’s gone. I loved him,” she said. “I’m not okay with him being gone.”
Garrison said she had two children with Haymer, as well as two other children. She said her mother currently has custody of all four of them.
She said she’s known Haymer since around 2010. Come July, she would have been married to him for three years.
Later in the hearing, during her statement of elocution, Garrison said she didn’t mean for any of this to happen.
“Despite what anyone might think, I love him,” she said, adding she was “sorry for the pain this has caused.”
Overwhelmed with grief and depression
Haymer’s mother, Ludella Williams, told the court via Zoom that her life hasn’t been the same since his death.
“I am heartbroken,” she said. “My son’s death has broken me.”
Williams said Haymer won’t get a chance to see his sons grow up. She said he was a good father to all four of the children.
Williams said she’s been overwhelmed with grief and depression since his death.
“This is a sad situation because nobody wins,” Williams said.
Prosecution and defense statements
State’s Attorney Matt Kwacala recommended a 16-year prison sentence for Garrison, one year of supervised release, and restitution.
“I do believe the court needs to hand down more than a probation sentence in a case where a man lost his life,” Kwacala said. “Mr. Haymer would be with us if not for Ms. Garrison.”
He said a strong sentence was needed to deter others from committing the same crime.
He also acknowledged Garrison had no previous criminal history.
Defense attorney Kurt Dittmer recommended probation.
He said Garrison didn’t mean to kill Haymer, and that Garrison was shocked when she realized she had stabbed him.
“This was an accident. This was a defensive posture,” Dittmer said.
He said there was a history of Haymer “going after” Garrison and committing acts of domestic violence.
Dittmer said imprisonment would subject Garrison’s children to more trauma, and he doubted a prison sentence would deter anyone else.
He also pointed out she had no criminal history.
“Her character, her attitude, show she is unlikely to commit another crime,” he said.
Dittmer told the court that Garrison was temporarily released from jail to attend her father’s funeral. He said she complied with all the terms and conditions of her furlough and returned early.
The ruling
Judge Graham spent close to 45 minutes in the judge’s chambers reviewing the evidence and considering the sentence.
He said she was the repeated victim of domestic violence.
He also said that Garrison told investigators right after the altercation that she and Haymer had been drinking all night, they argued about his infidelity, and that she pulled a knife out of her purse and stabbed him. Police were called to their home at 5:45 a.m.
In a statement several months later, she said the two had an argument and slapped each other. She told him to leave before the stabbing happened.
Graham said he gave more weight to the first statement, which was made before Garrison and her attorney had time to develop a defense.
He expressed concern that she was capable of stabbing someone over an argument. But he also noted that Garrison had no previous record, and said he couldn’t overlook her accounts of domestic violence.
Before issuing the sentence, Graham referred back to Williams’ comment that nobody wins in this case.
“This case is a tragedy, primarily for the children,” he said.
Seek help for domestic violence
Kwacala urged people to help out if they know someone who’s in a violent relationship. He said they can contact the Western Illinois Regional Council for assistance.
“Some of these toxic relationships are hard to get out of. If people need help, I would just say please step up and help them instead of looking the other way,” Kwacala said.
He said this was a tough case for everyone. He said it never should have happened.
Turning her life around
Garrison said in court that she and her children would stay in Chicago with her aunt, Evelyn Morens, if she was released.
After the hearing, a jubilant Morens said Garrison didn’t deserve to be behind bars, and said she already has a job lined up for Garrison.
“I’ve got everything in place. I’m very, very happy about the outcome,” she said.
Morens said she prayed before the judge delivered his decision, and believes Garrison will turn her life around. She said Garrison’s children are doing okay, although they miss their mom.
“They’re going to be very happy when their mom comes home,” Morens said.
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