For Immediate Release
May 23, 2019
A Jackson County judge today sentenced Brandon Howell to five consecutive life sentences for the fatal beating and shooting of five persons in their south Kansas City neighborhood in September 2014, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.
The judge sentences Howell to Life Without Parole for each Murder 1st Degree conviction and set those sentences to run consecutively. She also sentenced Howell to Life in prison for each of four Armed Criminal Action conviction, plus 15 years on a Burglary conviction and 1 year on a Stealing. All those sentences were set to run concurrent to the Life Without Parole sentences.
In April, a jury found Howell guilty of 11 felony counts: five Murder 1st Degrees, four Armed Criminal Actions, Burglary and Stealing.
According to court documents, Howell tried to steal a vintage Jaguar from the residence of Ann and George Taylor, severely beating the elderly county. They died later at the hospital. Howell allegedly shot and killed the Taylor's neighbors -- Lorene Hurst and her son, Darrel Hurst, and Susan Choucroun -- as Howell drove off in one of the Taylor's vehicles, a Toyota SUV. He was later arrested near Interstate 29 and Barry Road in the Northland.
At today's sentencing hearing, at least one representative of each victim's family told the judge of the irreparable loss that the famlies have suffered. "Nothing can take away our pain," said Kara Taylor, granddaughter of Ann and George Taylor.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Lauren Barrett asked the judge to run the sentences consecutively to ensure that the defendant never is released from prison. "There can be no chance .... that Brandon Howell is able to receive a parole hearing to be a free man in our community," she said.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys Jamie Hunt, Michael Hunt and Barrett 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
mmansur@jacksongov.org
http://jacksoncountyprosecutor.com
*Charges are only accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or has pleaded.