Jury recommends death penalty for Ohio man convicted in slayings of 2 teenage girls
By APWednesday, March 17, 2010
Jury recommends death for Ohioan in teen slayings
CINCINNATI — A jury has recommended the death penalty for an Ohio registered sex offender jurors convicted of killing two teenage Cincinnati girls and burning their bodies.
The jury announced its recommendation Wednesday after 41-year-old Anthony Kirkland pleaded for life sentences the previous day. A tearful Kirkland, who also has pleaded guilty to killing two Ohio women, told the jury he couldn’t believe “how horrible” he was and that it was true he is “a monster.”
A judge will impose sentence for the deaths of 13-year-old Esme Kenney and 14-year-old Casonya Crawford.
The jury convicted Kirkland of aggravated murder, attempted rape and other charges. He also faces 32 years to two life sentences for his pleas in the deaths of 45-year-old Mary Jo Newton and 25-year-old Kimya Rolinson, both of Cincinnati.
