Mother & Wife Shirley Brewer, Son Christian Brewer, neighbor & friend Norman Walker
Triple murder by convicted husband Clifford Brewer
Christmas Day 2019
Clifford W Brewer called 911 on Christmas Day, December 25, 2019 and said he woke up to find his wife, his son and a neighbor teenager dead in his home, indicating there was blood everywhere. The Livingston County Sheriff’s Deputies and other first responders arrived to the home at 416 East Jackson Street in Cullom, Illinois as Clifford was “drying his hands with a towel”.
The washing machine was running with adult men’s’ clothes inside. They found his son Christian Brewer, 27 in a bedroom upstairs with a single gunshot wound to his head. His wife, Shirley Brewer, 48 and the neighbor friend, Norman Walker, 51 also deceased with single gunshot wounds.
Brewer told Deputies he went shopping for his wife’s present who’s birthday was on Christmas Eve and when he returned they got in to an argument. The neighbor Norman had come to the Brewer house when Shirley asked him to, texting Norman and asking him if he would come over, needing a friend. Brewer said Shirley and Norman remained in one of the bedrooms upstairs, drinking heavily and listening to loud music. He said he went downstairs and laid on a recliner also listening to music on his phone, took sleeping medication and fell asleep.
Brewer told Deputies when he woke up a few hours later, he went upstairs and found a spent shell casing on the top of the stairs, he saw his son in his room with blood everywhere, and found his wife and neighbor in the next bedroom also deceased, with the gun lying near his wife’s body.
Brewer denied owning a gun, then said it looked like the gun Norman was trying to sell, then admitted he purchased the gun a year ago and kept it in a case upstairs in the bedroom. He did have a valid FOID card. He also admitted no one else came in or out of the house while he was asleep. Detectives found no forced entry.
The autopsy revealed that none of the gunshot wounds were self-inflicted.
Clifford Brewer worked as a corrections officer at the Pontiac Correctional Center, a maximum-security state prison since 2001 and had no criminal history, but I did find he had several serious traffic offenses included driving without a license. I also noticed he had an order of protection against him in 2010. Brewer was banking over $80,000 a year. He is currently reported to be put on “administrative leave”.
No motive has been mentioned. The relationship between Shirley and Norman is unknown. Brewer pleaded not guilty.
A GoFundMe account for funeral expenses raised just over $9.200 (and has since been deactivated).
Shirley’s last post on Facebook was on Christmas Eve, a meme that says “One day you’ll be just a memory for some people. Do your best to be a good one”.
Norman Walker was reported to be one of Clifford Brewer’s best friends. Reports show that everyone that knew them were all shocked, because they were all so close as friends. While made up rumors circulate through the small Cullom town of about 500, the important question may never be truly known. “Why?”
COURT 6 counts of First Degree Murder December 27, 2019 Bond was set at $5 Million (to pay 10%) January 21, 2020 Indictment March 25, 2020 last Pre-Trial Court Date April 20, 2020 Jury Trial begins (pushed out to November 2020) There was an order of protection against Cliff Brewer for Maria Medina, Nathan Wells, Efren Medina and Angela Medina in 2010.
Livingston County Court House
Clifford Brewer faced a Jury Trial at the Livingston County Court House (Illinois) on August 8, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. and lasted about 3 weeks. The defense claimed that Shirley is to blame for their son Christian and Norman Walker's death, as he struggled with Shirley prior to the gun accidentally discharging. They had an expert witness testify that the bullet wound was consistent with an accidental gunshot during a struggle. Brewer claimed he tried to stop Shirley when she held a gun to her own head.
Their surviving daughter, which was not at the residence the night of the murders, testified that her mother Shirley had become distant months prior to her death and said she had health issues that affected her mental health. She testified that her mother was drinking heavily and listening to sad music for her birthday (prior to the murders), and had previously made suicidal type of statements.
Brewer declined to testify.
Hours after the Jury deliberated, they returned a guilty verdict on all six counts against Brewer. His sentencing was scheduled for October 5, 2022 at 2:00 P.M. On this day, the court sentenced Cliff Brewer to life without parole, and is currently serving the rest of his days for the triple murder at the STATEVILLE CORRECTIONAL CENTER.
SHIRLEY’S OBITUARY
Shirley A. Brewer, 48, of Cullom, passed away Wednesday, December 25, 2019, at 5:20 a.m. at her home. A service will be held Tuesday, December 31, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. at Duffy-Baier-Snedecor Funeral Home in Pontiac with Pastor Jim Harkins officiating. Cremation rites will be accorded. Visitation will be Tuesday, December 31, 2019, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Duffy-Baier-Snedecor Funeral Home, Pontiac, is in charge of arrangements.
Shirley was born December 24, 1971 in Port Angeles, WA to Richard B. and Bonnie (Monk) Baty. She married Clifford W. Brewer. Clifford survives. Also surviving are her children, Nathan O. Wittington of Erie, IL, Zachary J. (Holly) Whittington of Erie, IL, and Bonnie K. (Seth) Lacroix of Killeen, TX; 11 grandchildren; and brothers, Don Baty of Washington, Kurt Palmer of Seattle, WA, and Dan Sharp of Clallam Bay, WA. She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Christian A. Brewer; and sisters, Karen Baty and Bonnie Lynn Palmer.
Shirley graduated from Port Angeles High School in Port Angeles, WA and was a homemaker. Shirley loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She was an avid reader. Memorials may be made to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 200 Vesey Street, 28th Floor, New York, NY 10281.
Online condolences may be made to the family at duffyfuneralhome.com or visit us on Facebook.
CHRISTIAN’S OBITUARY Christian A. Brewer, 27, of Cullom, passed away Wednesday, December 25, 2019, at 5:20 a.m. at his home. A service will be held Tuesday, December 31, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. at Duffy-Baier-Snedecor Funeral Home in Pontiac with Pastor Jim Harkins officiating. Cremation rites will be accorded. Visitation will be Tuesday, December 31, 2019, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Duffy-Baier-Snedecor Funeral Home, Pontiac, is in charge of arrangements. Christian was born November 6, 1992, in Morris, IL to Clifford W. and Shirley A. (Baty) Brewer. Clifford survives. Also surviving are his brothers, Nathan O. Whittington and Zachary J. (Holly) Whittington, both of Erie, IL; sister, Bonnie K. (Seth) Lacroix of Killeen, TX; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother. Christian graduated from Tri-Point High School in Cullom, Class of 2011. He was a loving Uncle to his many nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 200 Vesey Street, 28th Floor, New York, NY 10281. Online condolences may be made to the family at duffyfuneralhome.com or visit us on Facebook.
I was unable to find an obituary for Norman Walker.
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