Ken Tillery
Encyclopedia
Ken Tillery of Jasper, Texas
, was murder
ed on January 19, 2002. On the night of his murder, Tillery was outside of a suspected crackhouse when he was approached by three males, Darrell Gilbert, Blake Little, and Anthony Holmes, and offered a ride in their vehicle, an early 80's model Oldsmobile Cutlass
. Tillery accepted, but an argument later developed over the gas money he agreed to pay. Tillery expected to pay only $5, but the men demanded $50. When the car passed Tillery's home and arrived at a gas station, he jumped out and tried to flee, but was caught and beaten by the three men. Tillery's attackers ran him over and as a result, his body was dragged under the vehicle for 20 to 30 feet before it separated from the vehicle.
The FBI investigated and ruled out federal hate crime charges. Jasper County Sheriff Billy Rowles concluded, "It was just about drugs and money."
Holmes pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and received a 15-year term. Little was convicted of murder and sentenced to 70 years incarceration. Both are still serving their sentences. Gilbert was sentenced to 20 years in prison. On February 14, 2005, Gilbert was murdered in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Stiles Unit by fellow inmate Reagan Caldwell.
Jasper, Texas
Jasper is the county seat of Jasper County, Texas, in the United States. The population was 8,247 at the 2000 census. Jasper is situated in the Deep East Texas subregion, about northeast of Houston. The city is best known for the 1998 murder of James Byrd, Jr., an event which gained national...
, was murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
ed on January 19, 2002. On the night of his murder, Tillery was outside of a suspected crackhouse when he was approached by three males, Darrell Gilbert, Blake Little, and Anthony Holmes, and offered a ride in their vehicle, an early 80's model Oldsmobile Cutlass
Oldsmobile Cutlass
The Oldsmobile Cutlass is a line of automobiles made by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors. The Cutlass began as a unibody compact car, but saw its greatest success as a body-on-frame intermediate car....
. Tillery accepted, but an argument later developed over the gas money he agreed to pay. Tillery expected to pay only $5, but the men demanded $50. When the car passed Tillery's home and arrived at a gas station, he jumped out and tried to flee, but was caught and beaten by the three men. Tillery's attackers ran him over and as a result, his body was dragged under the vehicle for 20 to 30 feet before it separated from the vehicle.
The FBI investigated and ruled out federal hate crime charges. Jasper County Sheriff Billy Rowles concluded, "It was just about drugs and money."
Holmes pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and received a 15-year term. Little was convicted of murder and sentenced to 70 years incarceration. Both are still serving their sentences. Gilbert was sentenced to 20 years in prison. On February 14, 2005, Gilbert was murdered in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is a department of the government of the state of Texas. The TDCJ is responsible for statewide criminal justice for adult offenders, including managing offenders in state prisons, state jails and private correctional facilities, funding and certain...
Stiles Unit by fellow inmate Reagan Caldwell.
External links
- Frontpage magazine article comparing the cases of Tillery and Byrd Jr
- Politically Correct Murder and Media Bias by Larry ElderLarry ElderLaurence Allen "Larry" Elder is an American radio and television personality. His radio program The Larry Elder Show airs weekdays 9 AM to noon on talk radio 790 KABC in Los Angeles, California...
, compares the Byrd case to the Tillery case and the media coverage they received. - Investigation Into Death of a Sabine County Man Continues Local ABC affiliate coverage.