Man Sentenced For Killing Estranged Wife, Unborn Child: Prosecutors

ELGIN, IL — A man has been sentenced to 65 years in prison for the 2024 stabbing death of his estranged wife, 33-year-old Dreanna Booker of Elgin, prosecutors said.

Pierre J. French, 38, pleaded guilty on May 13 to first-degree murder, a Class M felony, and has been sentenced to 65 years in prison, according to a news release from the Kane County State's Attorney's Office. According to prosecutors, Booker gave French a ride to his residence around 11 p.m. on Dec. 6, 2024.

The two began arguing about Booker being in another relationship.

Booker had filed for divorce from French about six months earlier, and the two were living separately. French also knew Booker was pregnant, prosecutors said.

During the argument, French took a large kitchen knife and stabbed Booker multiple times, according to prosecutors.

French then fled in Booker’s blue GMC SUV and drove to the home of Booker’s boyfriend, where prosecutors said he intended to stab the man as well. When no one answered the door, French rammed the SUV into the boyfriend’s parked vehicle before driving away, according to the state's attorney's office.

Elgin police officers responding to the hit-and-run attempted to stop the SUV, but French refused to pull over. Police eventually ended the pursuit but were able to identify French as the driver.

Officers ran the SUV’s license plate and sent officers to Booker’s residence. While officers were responding, the Elgin Police Department received a 911 call from French, who said he had stabbed Booker during an argument at his home. When officers arrived, they found Booker dead in the kitchen.

French was later located in Booker’s SUV and taken into custody. Police found a large knife covered in blood on the passenger side of the vehicle, and French told officers it was the weapon he used to kill Booker, according to prosecutors.

An autopsy determined Booker died from multiple stab wounds. Her unborn child also died as a result of the stabbing, prosecutors said.

French must serve the full 65-year sentence under Illinois law. He will receive credit for 641 days he has spent in the Kane County Jail.

“Instead of handling his problems and circumstances like an adult, this defendant chose violence,” Mosser said in a statement. “He took his anger out on the mother of his own children, simply because he could not have what he wanted.”

Mosser said the killing left Booker’s six children without their mother and also affected her mother and siblings.

“While today’s sentence ensures that the defendant can never harm our community again, no punishment can restore the life that was taken,” Mosser said.