A call no family should ever receive

Sergio Esposito

No one can truly understand what that phone call felt like.

The kind of call that stops time. The kind of call that no parent, no family, should ever have to receive. In a single moment, everything changed forever. A beautiful, loving family, one that has given so much to this community, was left with a permanent, aching void that can never be filled.

And then the news spread.

It moved through our town like a wave of heartbreak. Because Sheridan wasn’t just a name. She was known. She was loved. She was part of all of us. And for a community that held her so close, the pain we feel is deep, raw and impossible to measure.

But even in that pain, Yorktown showed its heart.

Thousands came out to Sheridan’s vigil. Thousands stood shoulder to shoulder, holding candles, holding each other, holding onto memories. There were no words that could fix it, no way to make sense of it, but still, our community showed up. For Sheridan. For her family. For one another. And in that moment, through tears and silence and shared grief, you could feel just how much she meant… and just how strong this town truly is.

We will not let her be forgotten.

We will say her name: loudly, proudly, and always: SHERIDAN GORMAN.

We will carry her with us in everything we do. In the way we show kindness. In the way we look out for one another. In the way we come together when it matters most. Because that is who she was, and that is who we must continue to be.

But love alone is not enough.

Now, we demand justice

For Sheridan. For her family. For a community that is grieving but standing strong.

I am calling for the immediate resignation of Governor J. B. Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson. You have both FAILED.

Their sanctuary policies, combined with the foolish and rebranded cashless bail system under the SAFE-T Act, have created an environment that puts lives at risk every single day and undermines public safety.

These policies are not equitable to the law-abiding citizens who rely on their government to protect them. Instead of accountability, we have seen insincerity and a lack of urgency in addressing the real consequences these laws have had on communities.

It is time to restore balance. It is time to support and empower law enforcement so they can do what they are sworn to do: protect the innocent and uphold the rule of law. It is time to UNCUFF law enforcement!

The people deserve strong leadership that prioritizes safety, responsibility, and justice, not policies that compromise them. The people of Chicago deserve better, the people of Yorktown deserve better, the parents of SHERIDAN GORMAN deserve better.

SHERIDAN GORMAN DESERVED BETTER. #JusticeForSheridan.

Sergio Esposito is the Yorktown Deputy Town Supervisor.