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Robbery Lands Latosha Cunningham in Prison

In 1992, a 61-year-old woman gave 18-year-old LaTosha Cunningham a ride. Things took a dark turn when Cunningham pulled out a gun and demanded the woman’s purse. Cunningham shot the woman in the chest and got away with a measly 205 dollars.

Luckily, the victim survived and was able to identify Cunningham.

The pregnant mother of one Cunningham was convicted of aggravated battery with a firearm and armed robbery. She was given nine years for each charge and was back on the streets by 2001.

Murder of 85-year-old Yoko Cullen

By 2011, Cunningham was a regular at a Bingo hall in Collinsville, Illinois.

85-year-old Yoko Cullen was also a regular at the establishment. Cunningham got the impression she was wealthy and started plotting to rob her.

Cunningham, DaQuan D. Barnes, and his cousin Demarcus Barnes waited in the parking lot on May 18th, 2011, and when Cullen came outside, they robbed her of three hundred and ninety dollars.

She was thrown into the trunk of her vehicle. They took her to a secluded location in East St. Louis, where they beat her with tire irons until she gave up her PIN.

Once they got the info they needed, they burned Cullen alive.

The three monsters each got $130.

Cullen’s family reported her, and the vehicle was soon discovered.

Detectives zeroed in on Cunningham and Demarcus shortly after the crime, as they were seen on surveillance trying to use Cullen’s cards. Both also called the bank from their phones.

Cunningham was brought in for questioning twice and denied involvement.

During her third interrogation, authorities told her that Demarcus and Daquan confessed. At that point, Cunningham began speaking but attempted to minimize her involvement.

All three were arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

Legal Proceedings

Cunningham put on a show during her first court appearance as she pretended to faint and tried to puke during the proceedings.

DeQuan ended up pleading guilty to his involvement in the crime and was sentenced to 60 years.

Demarcus was found unfit to stand trial and was sent to a psychiatric facility for 80 years.

Cunningham had a bench trial in 2013. Just like in her third interrogation, she tried to minimize her involvement in the crime. The judge didn’t buy it.

He convicted her of first-degree murder and sentenced her to 60 years in prison without the possibility of parole.