KANSAS CITY, Mo. (TCN) — A 31-year-old man has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the deaths of four people a decade ago.
Over the course of several months in 2016, multiple unsolved killings took place along the Indian Creek Trail system in Kansas City, Missouri, leading to speculation that a serial killer was operating in the area, the Kansas City Star reports.
Most of the victims were white, middle-aged men and three were walking their dogs at the time they were killed, according to the Star. None of the victims knew their killer, later identified as Frederick Demond Scott. KMBC reports one of the victims, Karen Harmeyer, was a homeless woman.
Scott was arrested in 2017. According to KMBC, he said in his interview with police that the victims, all of whom were fatally shot, “never saw it coming.”
KMBC reports that over the last nine years and throughout multiple rulings, Scott’s attorneys argued he was mentally ill and not competent to stand trial.
According to the Star, Scott was charged with six counts of first-degree murder and six counts of armed criminal action in connection with the deaths of 57-year-old Steven Gibbons, 54-year-old John Palmer, 67-year-old David Lenox, 57-year-old Timothy S. Rice, 61-year-old Mike Darby, and 64-year-old Karen Harmeyer.
On Sept. 22, following a nine-day trial, Scott was found guilty in connection with the deaths of Gibbons, Palmer, Darby, and Harmeyer and not guilty in connection with the deaths of Rice and Lenox.
Jurors recommended life sentences without parole for each count of first-degree murder and 15 years for each count of armed criminal action, per the Star.
Family members and friends of victims spoke in court, according to the Star, sharing memories of their loved ones. Lilly Campbell, the granddaughter of Palmer, spoke about how he would make homemade waffles on weekends. She said, “I had to learn at a young age how to grieve.”
Darby’s brother, Michael Darby, said, ““There are four grandkids now who will never know the pleasure of his company,” according to the Star.
Of the conviction, Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson said, “While justice can sometimes be delayed, I’m very grateful for the majority of the families that today justice was not denied. … Of course, my thoughts and prayers continue to be with the Rice and Lenox families, but this is the process, and I’m very proud of our trial,” according to the Star.
Scott is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 23, according to the Kansas City Star.
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