Jury recommends death for Ohioan in teen slayings
CINCINNATI (AP) — A jury Wednesday recommended the death penalty for an Ohio registered sex offender convicted of killing two teenage girls and burning their bodies.
Jurors deliberated nearly four hours before recommending that Anthony Kirkland, 41, be executed for the slayings of Esme Kenney, 13, and Casonya Crawford, 14, both of Cincinnati.
On Friday, the jury convicted Kirkland of aggravated murder, attempted rape, aggravated robbery and gross abuse of a corpse in the deaths of the two teens.
Kirkland, with tears in his eyes, told jurors in a statement in court Tuesday that he didn't deserve to live but asked them to spare his life.
"I can't believe how horrible I am," he said. "They say I am evil and a monster. They are right."
Judge Charles J. Kubicki Jr. will impose sentence March 31. He can follow the jury's recommendation or choose to sentence Kirkland to life in prison.
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