WICHITA, KANSAS: Kevin Palmer, a 37-year-old Kansas man has been sentenced to over 41 years in prison for killing a 13-year-old girl named Brianna Ibarra who was dragged for "several miles" behind a stolen car.
The tragic incident took place on February 6, 2021, when Palmer stole an SUV from the parking lot of a restaurant. The killer will now serve a sentence of 493 months behind the bars, reported Law and Crime.
What are the charges against Kevin Palmer?
In connection with the death of Brianna, Palmer pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree reckless murder.
On the day of the incident, Wichita Police Department officers received an emergency call reporting a grey Ford Escape "dragging a female" on the outside of the vehicle traveling westbound, according to a press release from the WPD.
Police soon located the vehicle and found the teenager who was later identified as Brianna "caught on the outside of the vehicle."
The young girl who suffered several injuries while trying to escape from the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene.
Brianna Ibarra waited in the car for her parents when Kevin Palmer stole the car
According to authorities, Brianna was waiting inside the parked car while her parents dined at the Texas Roadhouse restaurant.
"The investigation revealed the female was sitting on the driver’s side rear of the Escape while it was parked outside of a nearby restaurant running," said authorities.
"Her family went into the restaurant to get food as she remained in the vehicle. Palmer got into the driver’s seat and fled in the vehicle."
The young girl quickly tried exiting the car as he drove away. However, she became ensnared in the seatbelt on the outside of the car and Palmer "continued to flee for several miles."
WPD chief says Brianna Ibarra's death was 'one of the saddest cases' he has been associated with
WPD Chief of Police Gordon Ramsay described the horrifying incident as "one of the saddest cases I have been associated with in my over 28 years of law enforcement."
Palmer said he was homeless and was in search of a place to warm up after it snowed at the time.
He told investigators that he was not aware of Brianna's presence in the vehicle till the moment before he stopped the vehicle.
"Palmer stated that he did not see anyone in or near the vehicle, so he opened the driver’s door and entered the vehicle with the intent to steal the SUV," read the affidavit.
"Kevin Palmer stated that the driver’s door was unlocked…that he threw his backpack in the front passenger seat, then looked into the backseat of the vehicle and did not see anyone in the vehicle."
Kevin Palmer expressed remorse for his actions
When police took Palmer into custody, he reportedly asked officers, "Oh my God. God help me. Is she dead? People are saying she was hurt."
During his sentencing hearing, he reiterated his deep regret saying, "There’s no words that I can say that will express how sorry I am that this happened and how much I regret what happened."
"Every single day, every single night, I can’t sleep, and I’m just in torment because of what happened and what I caused, and I didn’t know, I didn’t know that she was in the car, and I didn’t know that she was stuck in the seat belt, but at the same time, it was my stupidity that is the reason why this happened."
