On Thursday’s edition of America’s Newsroom, Fox News anchor Dana Perino broke down in tears after hearing the devastating story of Cassandra Tanner Miller, an Illinois woman whose 18-month-old son was murdered by her estranged husband, Christopher Michael Miller, while he was out on an ‘I-bond’ awaiting trial for felony battery charges.

The emotional interview unfolded as Perino discussed Illinois Governor Jay Pritzker’s recent decision to end cash bail for pretrial detainees, before speaking remotely with Miller. In a gut-wrenching recount of the tragic events of September 2019, Cassandra shared the details of that fateful day when her life was irrevocably changed.

Cassandra explained that her estranged husband, Christopher, broke into her home in Joliet, Illinois while he was out on an ‘I-bond’, a no-cash bail bond, as he awaited trial on three felony charges of aggravated battery. She described how Christopher brutally attacked her before pulling out a gun and fatally shooting their son, Colton, ten times, bef

Miller’s recount of the tragedy was heart-wrenching. She recalled being beaten and strangled by her husband in front of their children and how she yelled to her daughter, Camryn, to get her son Colton and run for help. But Christopher prevented the children from escaping, dragging Cassandra to the stairs where he later killed Colton while he was napping.

Fox News anchor Dana Perino has broken down in tears following an interview with an Illinois woman whose 18-month-old son was shot dead by her estranged husband

In the midst of the chaos, Cassandra managed to crawl upstairs and distract Christopher long enough for Camryn to escape. Christopher ultimately took his own life after murdering his son.

The trauma of this tragedy has led Cassandra to become a vocal advocate against the elimination of cash bail. She met with Governor Pritzker before he signed the sweeping legislation into law, urging him to reconsider the impact of ending cash bail on victims of domestic violence. She expressed profound disappointment in the governor’s decision, saying, “He absolutely let me down. I made a plea to him prior to him signing this bill and to hold off and to actually think about victims. He completely failed the entire domestic violence community.”

Cassandra’s emotional plea hit home for Dana Perino, who admitted that this was the hardest interview she had ever conducted. “I don’t think I’ve ever cried on TV. That was really hard,” Perino sobbed as she ended the segment. She expressed her belief that the story of Cassandra Miller is a tragedy that’s all too common, saying, “Her story is replicated everywhere.”

Cassandra told Perino that, in September 2019, her estranged husband, Christopher Michael Miller, broke into her home in Joliet, Illinois while he was out on an ‘I-bond’ while awaiting trial on three counts of aggravated felony battery. Cassandra and Christopher are pictured in happier times

Christopher killed his son, Colton, as he napped in an upstairs bedroom. The father and son are pictured together

Cassandra was brutally beaten by her estranged husband. She is pictured with injuries she sustained after the September 2019 tragedy

Cassandra has now become an outspoken opponent of eliminating cash bail, and met with Gov Pritzker urging him not to push through the legislation – which he eventually did this week.

‘He absolutely let me down. I made a plea to him prior to him signing this bill and to hold off and to actually think about victims,’ Cassandra stated.

‘He completely failed the entire domestic violence community,’ she added.

The harrowing story was too much for Perino to take, and her composure cracked after she ended the interview.

‘I don’t think I’ve ever cried on TV. That was really hard,’ Perino sobbed to Fox News colleague Trace Gallagher as she crossed to him at the conclusion of her program.

The harrowing story was too much for Perino to take, and her composure cracked after she ended the interview

‘I don’t think I’ve ever cried on TV. That was really hard,’ Perino sobbed to Fox News colleague Trace Gallagher as she crossed to him as she concluded her program

‘Her story is replicated [everywhere]’, Perino stated.

‘I understand that there is concern that cash bail has hurt segments of the population. There is concern that minorities are hurt more. But we have to think about these victims,’ she implored.

On Monday, Illinois’ Democratic Governor Pritzker signed sweeping reforms making Illinois the first state to end cash bail.

Some claim cash bail disproportionately effects people of color, as they are less likely to have access to money to post bond.

The law will not come into effect for several years but it has been slammed by Republicans and law enforcement officials .

‘The governor is willfully undermining public safety – endangering citizens, emboldening criminals,’ Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy said

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs a sweeping criminal justice reform bill into law during a ceremony at Chicago State University on the South Side, Monday