A high-level Cook County prosecutor stepped down unexpectedly Tuesday, the Tribune has confirmed.
Natosha Toller, chief of the sprawling criminal prosecutions bureau and a 16-year veteran of the office, submitted a resignation letter stating she would be leaving the office effective Wednesday.
“Being the voice for the voiceless is truly a sacred privilege and I will forever be eternally grateful for having been able to do so alongside all of you,” Toller wrote in the letter, obtained by the Tribune. “I leave this office with my integrity and reputation intact.”
Toller was widely respected among the rank and file in the office, and her resignation caught many by surprise. She was applauded as she walked out of the office Tuesday, sources told the Tribune.
While the abrupt departure sparked myriad rumors of conflict and scandal, sources close to the situation said Toller stepped down for personal reasons, having decided the time was right to leave after doing strong work through immensely stressful recent years. Her next steps are not clear.
In a memo to staff Tuesday, State’s Attorney Kim Foxx said Assistant State’s Attorney Renee Thibault would take Toller’s place on an interim basis.
“I’ve known Natosha since she started working for the office and I’ve watched her with pride as she’s been elevated through the office,” Foxx wrote in the memo. “She is an example of tireless leadership and commitment to the people she served.”
The criminal prosecutions bureau is the largest unit in the Cook County state’s attorney’s office, including prosecutors who handle felony and misdemeanor cases, a 24-hour felony review unit, and criminal appeals.
Toller was named head of that bureau in December 2020 after a rapid rise through the ranks.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.