Tammy Corbett

Case record: Tammy Corbett

Identity and background

Tammy Corbett was born in Illinois on October 2, 1965. She had one younger sister. As a teenager, Corbett was an excellent student, a cheerleader, and the president of her class.

Corbett claimed that she had been raped three times. After her rapes, she began to drink heavily and her grades dropped. Corbett began her serial series at the age of 21.

It was believed that during the time of the third murder Corbett was mentally ill. In April 1990, her husband, Richard, visited her in the county jail. She admitted placing her hand over Robert's mouth and suffocating him, and placing her hand over Amy's mouth and suffocating her.

During her later testimony and conversations while in custody, Corbett described multiple versions of being raped when she was younger, including versions in which she said she was grabbed as she was getting into her car and dragged to an apartment, and versions in which the rapist was described as a man who looked vaguely familiar and later as a black man. She also recounted a rape by a white man who dragged her from her car to an apartment, and she described rape by a group of black men in an abandoned building.

Relationship and family

Richard Eveans was Corbett’s former husband. They had three children: Ricky, Robert, and Amy Cecille. Corbett also had a stepdaughter, Brandie Eveans, who lived with Corbett for a time.

Brandie Eveans was Richard’s daughter and Corbett’s stepdaughter.

Gina Eveans was married to Richard’s brother and was a friend of Corbett. Gina described Corbett’s statements and observations during the periods surrounding Ricky’s and Robert’s deaths.

Katherine Sears was Corbett’s mother.

Mary Corbett was Corbett’s sister.

The offences

Corbett was charged with the murder of her three children, and the later trial included murders of two children in addition to the murder of the oldest child.

Corbett’s victims were her children. She used a different method of murder with each child:

• The first child had a fractured skull.
• The second was shaken to death.
• The third child was smothered.

At the time of trial, Corbett had already been convicted of murdering her oldest child, whose death prompted authorities to reexamine the earlier deaths and charge Corbett with murder.

Murder of Ricky (oldest child)

Corbett was convicted of murdering her oldest child, Ricky. The subsequent appellate decision described Ricky’s death as the event that prompted authorities to reexamine the earlier deaths and charge Corbett with murder of the other children.

Murder of Robert Eveans

Robert Eveans was 7 weeks old and was murdered in September 1987. In one account, his death was attributed to a skull fracture and spinal meningitis resulting from the skull fracture.

In the appellate decision background, Robert Eveans was born July 31, 1987, and died September 25, 1987. The appellate decision described that during her marriage Corbett had told Richard she was in the basement doing laundry and Robert had either fallen or Ricky had pulled Robert off a table. After Robert was admitted to the hospital because he had stopped breathing, Richard took off work when Robert appeared to be breathing normally on the monitor. Robert died in the hospital.

Appellate background also described forensic pathology evidence relating to Robert’s death, including testimony by Raj Nanduri (forensic pathologist) and Mary Case (pathologist), and analysis of whether the findings were consistent with death by suffocation and whether the cause of death should be determined as homicide.

Murder of Amy Cecille Eveans

Amy Cecille Eveans was murdered in September 1988 and was 16 days old. One account said it was ruled that her death was caused by Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

In the appellate decision background, Amy Cecille Eveans was born August 16, 1988, and died September 1, 1988. The appellate decision described that on the morning she died, Richard and Corbett were asleep when the alarm clock went off. Corbett jumped out of bed, ran into the baby’s room “like she knew something was wrong,” and yelled something was wrong with Amy. Richard saw Amy cold and stiff.

Investigation

Authorities had said that neither of the younger children’s deaths was considered suspicious until Richard Jr. died.

A coroner’s physician, Dr. William Drake, performed an autopsy on Amy. Dr. Drake determined she died from cardiorespiratory arrest due to anoxia (a lack of breathing), considered to be sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Dr. Drake said there was no evidence of “foul play” at the time, and that autopsy findings for SIDS and death by suffocation are indistinguishable in a tiny baby.

Raj Nanduri performed an autopsy on Robert in September 1987 and determined the cause of death was meningitis. He later performed an autopsy on Ricky and was aware Amy had died of SIDS, and suggested reinvestigation of the two earlier deaths. The appellate decision included testimony that meningitis is not always fatal and that the findings of Robert’s autopsy were not inconsistent with death by suffocation.

Mary Case reviewed the records of Robert and Amy. She believed Robert had only localized brain inflammation, not meningitis, and his cause of death was undetermined. She testified that a child of that age rarely shows signs of suffocation, that SIDS is commonly accepted to occur only after the baby is at least one month old, and that a diagnosis of SIDS requires an investigation of family history. Her office prohibited the diagnosis of SIDS in a family where another child had already died of SIDS. She explained that given the circumstances surrounding Robert’s and Amy’s deaths, she would rule the cause of their deaths homicide.

In the investigation that preceded charges, Corbett was arrested after a three-week investigation by the Illinois State Police, the Madison County coroner’s office, and the Jersey County Sheriff’s Department.

Arrest and custody

Tammy Corbett (also named Tammy Eveans in one account) was arrested on August 10, 1989 for the murder of her three-year-old son (Richard Jr. / Richard Wesley Eveans / Ricky).

A news account described that Corbett, who was 23 at the time, was arrested and charged Thursday after a three-week investigation, and that she was of rural Brighton.

Another account described that Corbett was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the death of her 3-year-old son last month, and that the deaths of two other children in 1987 and 1988 would be investigated. Jersey County Sheriff Frank Yocum was quoted as describing the investigation.

Court proceedings

Suppression hearing and admissibility rulings

Corbett moved to suppress statements she made to Jersey County Sheriff Frank Yocom.

At the suppression hearing, Sheriff Frank Yocom testified that he was called to the jail because Corbett was crying and requested to see him. On arrival, he advised Corbett who her attorney was and she should talk to him. Corbett replied she knew her rights and wanted to talk to Sheriff Yocom. He told her again that she should be aware of her constitutional rights and should talk to her attorney. She replied that she had not been honest with the sheriff and Lieutenant Wayne Watson of the Illinois State Police and wanted to “get some ‘things off her chest’ about Robert and Amy.” She wanted a meeting the next morning with her attorney, Sheriff Yocom, and Lieutenant Watson. She said she had not been perfectly honest with her attorney and wanted to “get all of this out in the open.” Sheriff Yocom asked no questions. Corbett made these statements on her own. The meeting never transpired.

The trial court denied the motion to suppress, finding Corbett’s statements were voluntary and self-initiated.

Corbett also moved to suppress testimony from her former husband concerning admissions to him that she killed their two children. The trial court denied that motion as well.

Trial

After a bench trial, Corbett was convicted of four counts of murder, a violation of section 9-1 of the Criminal Code of 1961 (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 38, par. 9-1 (now 720 ILCS 5/9-1 (West 1992))).

Corbett pleaded not guilty to two counts alleging she intentionally or knowingly caused their deaths and two counts alleging she engaged in conduct knowing it created a strong probability of their deaths.

Evidence and testimony at trial

Richard Eveans testified about the children and about what Corbett told him.

Richard testified that while he was away on a trip, Corbett called and told him she was in the basement doing laundry and Robert had either fallen or their son Ricky had pulled Robert off a table. A few days later, Richard returned home when Robert was admitted to the hospital because he had stopped breathing. Richard testified that Robert was hooked to a monitor and appeared to be breathing normally. Robert never had any trouble breathing before or after he was admitted. Richard took off work for a few days to console Corbett. The first day he went back to work, Robert died in the hospital.

Richard testified about Corbett’s statements about her earlier rapes and described different versions she gave about being raped when she was younger.

Regarding Amy’s death, Richard testified that on the morning she died, Corbett jumped out of bed, ran into the baby’s room “like she knew something was wrong,” and yelled something was wrong with Amy. He described Amy as cold and stiff. After Amy’s death, while consoling Corbett, he asked why she jumped out of bed that morning. He testified she replied:

“She dreamed Amy's name was in place of Robert's name on his headstone in the cemetery, so when she awoke she ran to see if Amy was all right.”

In April 1990, Richard testified he visited Corbett in the county jail. Richard testified that Corbett admitted placing her hand over Robert’s mouth and suffocating him and placing her hand over Amy’s mouth and suffocating her, and that she said she laughed when she did this and could not understand why Richard had not awakened when she was killing Amy.

Richard testified he never saw Corbett act as other than a loving mother with their children and his stepdaughter. He also testified that she thrashed around in bed with violent nightmares and he was unable to wake her.

Several fellow inmates and acquaintances testified about Corbett’s admissions:

• William Davis met Corbett while a fellow inmate in the Jersey County jail. He testified Corbett told him she placed a pillow over the face of her “other child” (apparently Robert) and killed the child. He testified she told him at least a dozen times what she had done, and testified she said:

• Charles Enneian met Corbett while a fellow inmate at the Jersey County jail. He testified that in a telephone conversation in the summer of 1990 Corbett told him:

• Debra Sinks met Corbett while in jail. Sinks testified Corbett told her she contacted Sheriff Yocom because she wanted to confess and tell the truth about the deaths of her children.
• Lynn Chism had a phone conversation with Corbett in November 1989 while Corbett was being held in jail. Chism testified she told Corbett she had “no doubt” Corbett had killed Robert and Amy. Chism testified that Corbett started crying and said:

“It was my hands. It wasn't me, it was my hands.” Chism testified that when she yelled at Corbett “You killed Robbie,” Corbett answered: “No, Ricky.” Chism testified Corbett then said she “had nothing to do with killing Amy.”

“when Amy and Robbie died, they both kicked their legs real hard like a little baby would kick their legs trying to swim in the water.”

“there was no witnesses, so she couldn't go to jail.”

Dr. William Drake and other forensic witnesses testified about the medical evidence:

• Dr. William Drake performed an autopsy on Amy and testified Amy died from cardiorespiratory arrest due to anoxia and that he considered it SIDS with no evidence of “foul play” at the time. He testified that SIDS is “a failure to breathe for unknown reasons.”
• Raj Nanduri performed an autopsy on Robert and testified the cause of death was meningitis. He suggested reinvestigation of the earlier deaths.
• Mary Case testified that she would rule the cause of Robert’s and Amy’s deaths homicide based on the circumstances.

Defence witnesses described Corbett’s background and mental state, including high school changes and alleged brain injury and trauma. The appellate decision summarized this testimony as follows:

• Corbett’s personality changed in high school; she had been outgoing, involved in student activities, a straight “A” student, and president of the student council. By junior year she became introverted and depressed, withdrew from student activities, and began to drink; her grades slipped and she did not graduate with her class.
• In high school, she had an abortion, received a head injury in an accident at the Young Men’s Christian Association pool, and was involved in a car accident.
• After the accidents, she had headaches and blackouts, violent nightmares from which she could not be awakened, and unprovoked hysterical screaming fits, after which she also blacked out and could not remember what happened.
• Several witnesses testified she seemed a wonderful, loving mother.

Katherine Sears testified Corbett claimed she was doing laundry in the basement when Ricky pulled Robert down from the kitchen table. Mary Corbett testified that after Robert died, Corbett said she was doing dishes in the kitchen when he fell. Katherine Sears’ and Mary Corbett’s testimony described inconsistent accounts Corbett gave.

After Ricky’s death, Corbett told someone she was taking a nap with Ricky when she had a nightmare she was being raped, and that her body smothered Ricky.

Dr. Daniel J. Cuneo, a clinical psychologist, evaluated Corbett. Cuneo testified that Corbett believed she killed her children because she had dreams and flashbacks of doing so. Cuneo testified he believed her pool and auto accidents caused brain damage that amplified her negative personality traits caused by rape trauma. Cuneo testified a substantial disorder of thought, mood, and behavior impaired her judgment. He testified Corbett could appreciate the criminality of her conduct and was legally sane at the time of the alleged offenses.

Cuneo testified on cross-examination that a medical report by Dr. Farid Karimi indicated Corbett did not have brain damage. On redirect, Cuneo noted Dr. Karimi had agreed Corbett was mentally ill and believed Corbett was legally insane.

The State moved to limit Dr. Karimi’s opinion regarding Corbett’s insanity to show the basis for Dr. Cuneo’s opinion; the trial court granted the motion over objection.

The defence rested after presenting the witnesses summarized above.

At the conclusion of the evidence, the trial court ruled no evidence of insanity or provocation had been presented and found Corbett guilty but mentally ill on all four counts of murder.

Rebuttal witness

Virginia Budde testified for the State as a rebuttal witness. She was a former coworker of Corbett.

Budde testified that when Corbett was pregnant, she said she did not want the baby and that “this was going to be the last one, anyway; that she didn't have to worry about it.” Budde also testified Corbett stated “something along the line that if she was lucky, something about the baby she was carrying wouldn't be born, would be born with something wrong.”

The defence objected that Budde’s testimony was not rebuttal. The trial court overruled the objection.

Verdict and conviction details

Corbett was convicted of four counts of murder by bench trial.

The appellate decision described that the trial court’s judgment was affirmed in part and vacated in part:

• The appellate court affirmed in all other aspects.
• The convictions for murder based on knowledge of a strong probability of her children’s deaths were vacated.
• The trial court should have convicted Corbett only on the two counts of intentional or knowing murder, and the convictions for the other theory were vacated.

Sentencing

Corbett was sentenced to two concurrent terms of natural life imprisonment.

Another status and summary information provided that Corbett was sentenced to 20 years in prison on September 24, 1990.

Corbett later received a sentence of life in prison without parole on February 10, 1993 in Illinois.

Appeals

Corbett appealed her conviction. The appellate court was the Appellate Court of Illinois, Fourth District.

The decision style included: “The People of the State of Illinois, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Tammy L. Eveans, A/K/A Tammy L. Corbett, Defendant-Appellant.” The appeal was from Circuit Court of Macoupin County, Nos. 91CF82, 91CF83. Honorable Joseph P. Koval, Judge Presiding.

The opinion was delivered by Knecht, J. (with Steigmann and McCULLOUGH concurring).

The appellate decision stated:

• “We affirm in part and vacate in part.”
• “Affirmed in part; vacated in part.”

The appellate decision also included a denial of leave to appeal:

• Petition for Leave to Appeal Denied April 3, 1996.

Outcome

The appellate decision vacated the convictions for murder based on knowledge of a strong probability of her children’s deaths, while affirming the conviction in other respects. The convictions were limited to the two counts of intentional or knowing murder after vacating the remaining counts.

Other details

Charged and indicted in prison

A news account stated that on April 25, 1991 a 24-year-old woman in prison for killing her 3-year-old son was indicted by a Macoupin County grand jury on murder charges in the deaths of her two other children.

The indictment accused Tammy Corbett Eveans of killing her 2-month-old son Robert in 1987, and her 2-week-old daughter Amy in 1988.

Her attorney, Arthur Margulis, said his client would plead innocent.

The news account stated she was serving a 20-year sentence at the Dwight Correctional Center for the July 1989 killing of her 3-year-old son, Richard Jr., and that she pleaded guilty but mentally ill to a murder charge in that case.

Authorities said that neither of the younger children’s deaths was considered suspicious until Richard Jr. died.

Another charged case description

A news account dated August 13, 1989 described that Corbett was charged with first-degree murder in the death of her 3-year-old son and that the deaths of two other children in 1987 and 1988 would be investigated.

The account described the accused as Tammy Eveans, 23, of rural Brighton, and stated that she was arrested and charged Thursday after a three-week investigation.

The account included a description attributed to Jersey County Sheriff Frank Yocum.

The account described Corbett’s alleged method in the 3-year-old son death as placing her hand over the child’s mouth and suffocating him.

The account also described the other children’s deaths as:

• 2-month-old Robert Wayne, who suffered a fractured skull on Aug. 25, 1987, after a reported fall.
• 3-week-old Amy, whose Aug. 1, 1988 death was attributed to sudden infant death syndrome.

Witness accounts about suffocation and “getting even”

Brandie Eveans testified she once saw Corbett put her hand over Robert’s mouth and that he started shaking and kicking his legs.

Brandie also testified she saw Corbett place her hand over Amy’s mouth and that Amy started kicking her legs. Brandie testified she ran to her bedroom and hid because she was afraid Corbett was “going to get her.”

Gina Eveans testified that Corbett told her she had been in the basement doing laundry when Ricky pulled the tablecloth off the kitchen table, which pulled Robert down off the table. Gina testified that when she went to Corbett’s house to get clothes for Corbett and Ricky, there was no tablecloth or blood on the floor.

Gina testified that the second time Robert was taken to the hospital, she saw Corbett lean over Robert and say:

“Don't worry, baby, I got even.”

Gina testified that she also noted Corbett told her on numerous occasions she was going to get even with her husband, Richard, for being away from home so much.