On April 29, 2025, a room camera recorded a patient being physically and mentally abused by a staff at Kiley Developmental Center (AKA, "Kiley Snake Pit") in Waukegan, IL, while another staff stood and watched. It was not subtle: the Illinois State Police (ISP) investigated the incident and recommended criminal prosecution of the staff. The Lake County State's Attorney exercised his discretion to not empower a grand jury or bring charges.
I have seen the room camera video. I may soon post it for the public on this blog. What it shows is a male staff hitting, insulting, and threatening a developmentally disabled patient who is attempting to retreat to his bed in his room. The staff assaulting the patient is identifiable as Marshall Bell. He is a "Residential Services Supervisor" who earned an annual salary of $65,000 in 2024, which was raised to $68,900 in 2025, when the Illinois State Police recommended his prosecution for beating up on the patient at Kiley Snake Pit. Bell never lost his job as would be expected. He was most recently paid on July 14, 2026, and his salary has evidently been raised again.
It might be interesting to try getting a straight answer from Marshall Bell's boss Takisha Hankerson, or from Takisha's boss Tonya Piephoff, or from Tonya's boss Dulce Quintero, or from Dulce's boss JB Pritzker, to this question: "Does Marshall Bell get a raise every year despite the fact that he terrorizes and beats up vulnerable patients, or because he's so good at beating up and terrorizing vulnerable patients?" Why is anyone like this still employed, and what the hell is the story at Kiley Snake Pit?
If the room camera video didn't tend to substantiate my allegations here, I would publicly retract them and sincerely apologize, on this blog, to everyone named here as well as to everyone who wants me to be more "civil" and professional as a lawyer. But the video substantiates the allegations, no matter the Lake County State's Attorney's priorities.
When Marshall Bell terrorizes the most vulnerable people among us and continues to get paid with our tax dollars, it occurs to me that criminal law won't solve every dispute. Sometimes people have to stand up to bullies and tell unpleasant truths. That's as important a part of the legal profession as civility.
So... stay tuned.
