'Little Killer' Acquitted of Murder Now Wanted For Allegedly Stealing Cell Phone

JOLIET, IL — Daeviontae Pruitte was freed from jail after a judge found him not guilty of murder in July — but the cops are looking to lock him up again, this time for allegedly stealing a cell phone.

Pruitte, 22, was jailed for a year and a half while he was charged with gunning down 54-year-old Timothy Egner outside the Center Street Wendy’s in August 2012. Pruitte went on trial last summer and Will County Judge Carla Alessio Policandriotes found him not guilty, even though he was was recorded referring to himself as the “killer” and the “little killer” during telephone conversations, according to prosecutors.

During Pruitte’s trial, one of his attorneys explained that calling oneself a “killer” is merely a slang expression and similar to saying “player.”

Egner was waiting outside the Wendy’s to pick up a family member who had worked the night shift when he was slain.

Pruitte’s new case stems from his alleged theft of a cell phone from a Joliet man three weeks ago.

The Bolingbrook police obtained a warrant for Pruitte’s arrest. The warrant carries a $25,000 bond.