Sex, Murder and Bad Parole: The Implications of the Carr Brothers Murders in Wichita

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

Jonathan and Reginald Carr were violent convicted felons in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections. In 2000, the Carr Brothers were paroled and released from prison for what was supposed to be intensive supervision by the KDOC parole office. The Carr brothers slipped away from that supervision in December, 2000. They proceed to commit some robberies and committed a bizarre and horrific series of brutal murders in which the victims (both male and female) were forced to have sex with their assailants and each other prior to being shot by their attackers. The Carr brothers killed five persons and a dog. A sixth victim was badly injured but escaped to give the alarm. The Carr brothers were captured and their offenses caused a media circus and a firestorm that involved race relations in Kansas. White extremist groups demanded that this be declared a hate crime against whites. African American interest groups feared a lynching was coming (either judicial or physical) and the entire parole and probation system in the State of Kansas was under attack. This research examines the issues and outcomes of that crime and the trial that followed.

Author

• Stacia N. Pottorff, University of Central Missouri