A 33-year-old Elgin man has been sentenced to 65 years in prison for stabbling his pregnant ex-wife to death in 2024.
Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser announced today that Judge Bianca Camargo has sentenced Pierre J. French to 65 years of imprisonment for the murder of Dreanna Booker, 33, of Elgin.
In May, French pled guilty to the offense of First-Degree Murder, a Class M felony.
According to prosecutors, on December 6, 2024, at around 11pm, Booker gave French a ride to his residence, where they proceeded to get into an argument about Booker being in another relationship. Booker had filed for divorce from French about six months before, and they were living separately. French was aware that Booker was pregnant.
As the argument progressed, French took out a large kitchen knife and stabbed Booker several times throughout her body.
French fled the scene in Booker’s blue GMC SUV and went to the home of Booker’s boyfriend, whom he also intended to stab. When no one answered the door, French took the SUV and rammed into the boyfriend’s parked car before driving off.
Elgin police officers were dispatched to the scene of the hit and run and attempted to stop the SUV; however, French refused to yield to officers, and police eventually terminated their pursuit. Officers were able to identify French as the driver of the vehicle.
Police ran the SUV’s license plates and sent units to Booker’s address. Upon arrival, the Elgin Police Department received a 911 call from French claiming that he had stabbed Booker during an argument at his residence.
Officers immediately responded to French’s residence and forced entry. Inside, they located Dreanna Booker deceased in the kitchen.
Officers soon located French in the blue GMC and took him into custody. A large knife covered in blood was found on the passenger side of the vehicle. French admitted to officers that it was the weapon he used to commit the murder.
An autopsy confirmed that Booker died from multiple stab wounds and that the unborn child she was carrying also died as a result of French’s actions.
“Instead of handling his problems and circumstances like an adult, this defendant chose violence,” Mosser stated. “He took his anger out on the mother of his own children, simply because he could not have what he wanted. That selfish decision stole a mother from her six children, a daughter from her mother, and a sister from her siblings, all of whom should have had a lifetime of memories still to make with her. It also ended the life of Dreanna’s unborn child before it ever had the chance to begin. While today’s sentence ensures that the defendant can never harm our community again, no punishment can restore the life that was taken.”
In accordance with Illinois law, French must serve the full sentence. He receives credit for 641 days served in the Kane County Jail.
