Kansas Governor Laura Kelly denies a request for clemency from convicted murderers Johnathan and Reginald Carr.

 

The two brothers were convicted for the December 2000 murders of five people during a week-long crime spree in Wichita and were sentenced to death for the crimes. Both had requested the commutation of their death sentences to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

 

On Tuesday, July 14, Kelly denied that request. Kelly stated: “I have long supported the repeal of the death penalty, believing it an impractical, expensive burden on the state. And, because it mandates multiple opportunities for appeal, it drastically delays closure for the families of the victims. A sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole makes much more sense for all concerned.

 

“However, the death penalty is current law in Kansas and, if ever there were a situation in which the death penalty is justified, it is that of the unspeakably heinous acts of torture and murder committed by Reginald and Jonathan Carr.

 

“Because of the horrific nature of their crimes and because it appears that their punishment was meted out after thoughtful consideration by a jury of their peers, I am denying the death sentence commutation requests of both Reginald Carr and Jonathan Carr.

 

“I hope that this denial provides some comfort for those who still grieve their loved ones 26 years later.”

 

The victims of the Carr brothers' crime spree. (Top) Ann Walenta, Heather Muller, Brad Heyka. (Bottom) Aaron Sander, Jason Befort

 

Photo: Johnathan Carr (l), Reginald Carr (r)