Rosa Lagrone, 40, has been sentenced to 38 years in prison after being convicted of first-degree murder for fatally shooting her fiance, Darnell Manns, following an argument about his infidelity in Naperville, Illinois. In a chilling sequence captured through social media, Lagrone used Manns' Facebook account while he lay bleeding on the floor to video-chat with the woman he had been dating.
Background
The fatal confrontation unfolded on Nov. 6, 2020, at approximately 2:15 p.m. at Lagrone's home in the 2600 block of Keswick Lane in Naperville, a western suburb of Chicago. According to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office, Lagrone and Manns, 27, were arguing about Manns dating another woman. Manns was in the process of packing his belongings to leave the residence when the shooting occurred.
The Investigation
Lagrone shot Manns with a handgun, striking him in the arm and torso. Investigators later determined that the bullet fired by Lagrone passed through Manns' arm and became lodged in his spine. Despite being critically wounded, Manns remained alive as he lay on the floor surrounded by blood. In what authorities described as a deeply disturbing act, Lagrone accessed Manns' Facebook account to conduct a live video-chat with the woman whom Manns had been dating, positioning her phone so that Manns' bleeding body appeared in the background of the call.
The investigation also revealed that someone was captured on video kicking Manns twice while he lay incapacitated. Emergency responders transported Manns to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries three days later on Nov. 9, 2020.
The Charges
Lagrone was originally charged with attempted murder following the shooting on Nov. 6, 2020. After Manns died from his wounds, she was re-indicted for first-degree murder on Nov. 19, 2020. A DuPage County jury found Lagrone guilty after a four-day trial and approximately two and a half hours of deliberation.
DuPage County State's Attorney Bob Berlin emphasized the tragic consequences of domestic violence in announcing the sentence. "Domestic violence continues to be a plague on society with the worst cases carrying permanent, heart-breaking consequences, as we saw in the murder of Darnell Manns," Berlin stated. He noted that no prison term could restore what Manns' loved ones had lost.
"Their grief will far outlast Ms. Lagrone's sentence, and I wish them strength as they navigate their lives without the love, comfort and support once provided by Darnell," Berlin added.
Key Takeaways
- Rosa Lagrone was sentenced to 38 years in prison for first-degree murder
- The shooting occurred Nov. 6, 2020, at her Naperville home during an argument about infidelity
- She used her dying fiance's Facebook account to video-call his mistress while he bled on the floor
- Darnell Manns, 27, died from his injuries three days after being shot in the arm and torso
- Lagrone must serve 100% of her sentence before becoming eligible for parole
What's Next
Lagrone's 38-year sentence is final. She will begin serving her term at an Illinois Department of Corrections facility, where she must complete the entirety of her term before being considered for release.
The case remains closed following Lagrone's conviction and sentencing in DuPage County Circuit Court.