For Immediate Release
June 25, 2021

A Jackson County judge on Thursday sentenced a Kansas City to life in prison without parole, plus at least 30 years more, after he was convicted of multiple felony counts in connection with the fatal strangling of 24-year-old Ashley Geddes, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.

The jury in April convicted Cedric O. Russell, 6/2/1992, of Murder 1st Degree, Sodomy 1st Degree, Burglary 2nd Degree, Stealing, Tampering with a Motor Vehicle 1st Degree, and Tampering with Physical Evidence.

 On Thursday, the defendant was sentenced to life without parole on the Murder 1st Degree conviction, plus 30 years on the Sodomy conviction, set to run consecutive to other counts. In addition, he was sentenced to concurrent sentences of seven years on the Burglary 2nd Degree and Tampering With a Motor Vehicle convictions, four years on the Tampering with Physical Evidence and one year on the Stealing misdemeanor.

At a press conference with Prosecutor Baker in June 2017 about the charges being filed against Russell, the victim's mother said, "No mother should have her daughter in the matter that I found my daughter."

Prosecutors charged Russell soon after the murder. Kansas City police found Geddes on June 1 when they went to a home in the 10500 block of East 45th Place on a reported ambulance call. Fingerprints and evidence from Geddes’ residence led police to Russell, according to court records.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys Jordan Logan and Kristiane Bryant prosecuted the case on behalf of the state of Missouri.

For more information, contact:

Michael Mansur
Director of Communication
Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office
Jean Peters Baker, Prosecutor
Work : (816) 881-3812
Mobile : (816) 674-3954
www.jacksoncounyprosecutor.com
mmansur@jacksongov.org