JACKSONVILLE – Larry Pippion didn’t have a regular father-son relationship when growing up with his father, Larry Earvin, but he knows he was a quiet and intelligent man.
It wasn’t until Pippion was a teenager that he learned that his father was schizophrenic and bipolar.
“He always came and fetched me,” said Pippion, now 49. “It was seventh grade when I was 13 and what not,” when he found out about his father’s mental health.
Because of his condition, Earvin decided to live elsewhere and fight living alone away from his family in Chicago, Pippion said.
“He was always in and out of facilities,” said Pippion.
Pippion often passed years without hearing from his father and learned how he was doing from his family members.
“It was about 15 years since I hadn’t heard from him,” he said.
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But when he heard from his father, usually one of his cousins, “it was a happy moment,” said Pippion.
During one of Earvin’s hospital stays, he stole life-changing items from a hospital gift shop in Chicago.
“He was charged with theft of $ 300,” Pippion said. “He was sentenced to six years.”
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Pippion wished authorities knew his father had mental health problems, he said, adding that a six-year sentence was too severe for the crime.
“It’s not even worth going to jail,” he said. “Six years.”
Earvin, 65, was in the Western Illinois Correctional Facility in Brown County when he was attacked on May 17, 2018 while being transferred to another unit at the facility. He suffered multiple broken ribs, a colon puncture, and other internal injuries. He died of these injuries on June 26, 2018.
Earvin was only months away from his release after serving his six-year prison sentence.
Three prison officials were charged with the attack. Todd Sheffler from Mendon, Alex Banta from Quincy, and Willie Hedden from Mount Sterling have all been charged with death-related charges. Hedden has since pleaded guilty to bringing federal civil rights charges; Sheffler and Banta are due to be tried on November 3rd. Both are charged with conspiracy, disenfranchisement and obstruction of justice.
Pippion didn’t even know his father was in jail.
“The hospital called and said he died because he was beaten,” Pippion said. “I thought they were other prisoners, but when I found out they were prison guards, I was furious.”
Three years later, Pippion and his family are still seeking justice for Earvin, not because of the settlement money but because of sheer justice.
“No amount would make me happy. It wouldn’t bring my father back,” said Pippion, adding that he has three grown children who will never have the chance to meet their grandfather. “They want justice too.”
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“I just want justice …” said Pippion. “Whatever the judge’s decision.”
The frustration of Pippion’s family doesn’t stop with him and his sons. Other family members share their anger over Earvin’s death, especially because they don’t even know where he is buried.
“I have an aunt in southern Illinois who knows the cemetery (where Earvin is buried) but when they left the lady was so busy she didn’t have time to show them,” said Pippion, adding, that Earvin is buried with an unmarked tombstone. “To this day, nobody knows … they did all of this without notifying us.”
ARCHIVE PHOTOS: Travel back to the Illinois State Fair
Illinois State Fair Happy Hollow
1966: That year, 1,122,000 attended the Illinois State Fair, which featured more exhibits and more concessions. Crowds rushed through Happy Hollow, many on their way to the cyclone.
Heinhold pig race
1985: Number 3 Pignocchio held the lead to attract other pigs. Five pigs break out of a starting gate and race on an oval track for a chocolate sandwich biscuit.
Aerial view of the Illinois State Fair
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Illinois State Fair Coliseum
1969: A year of preparation leads to hectic, last-minute grooming at the State Fair Coliseum. Those who have reached their moment of truth display the beef rings on the right in the milk ring and in the background.
Ferris wheel
1980: The Illinois State Fair ends in Springfield with stock car races and a demolition derby. The ferris wheel continues to run.
Goat competitions
1985: Premier breeder Julie Myers with Alonda, one of her goat entries. Julie won the awards for first breeder, first exhibitor, first sire and junior champion in the open competitions. Myers is the daughter of Ralph and Judy Myers from Argenta.
Chester White gilt pig
1985: Maria Miller shows off a gold-plated Chester White at the Illinois State Fair. Miller is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jake Miller.
Auctioneer Merrill Anderson
1981: Newman auctioneer Merrill Anderson solicits bids at the Champion Ox auction. Governor Jim Thompson resigned his job as an auctioneer. John Jeffries, 16, of Baylis, made $ 10,000 for his Grand Champion Barrow.
Selling champions
1981: The sale of champions attracts many bidders.
Shave and a haircut
1984: Craig Hicks, a 16-year-old member of the Sangamon Valley 4-H Club, introduced the clipper to Patty Sharyl, his Charolais entry on the 1984 Illinois State Fair Junior Show, before the show began. He is the son of Dale and Martha Hicks from Monticello.
Illinois Department of Agriculture
1981: The Illinois Department of Agriculture’s new headquarters and adjacent parking lots removed most of the campgrounds.
Art and textile construction
1969: Illinois State Fair Art and Textile Building.
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