Saturday, April 11, 2009

"Boyfriend" sentenced to life without parole for killing mother of his unborn child


A Shawnee, KS man who slit his baby mama's throat was sentenced to life without parole Thursday, April 9. Brandon N. Reed, 23, pled guilty to capital murder in the November 27, 2008 death of Christina Osburn, 21 and pregnant with Reed's child. Osburn was found nude with her throat slit in her Shawnee, KS apartment. Reed fled towards the US/Mexico border, but was captured after US Border Patrol agents found his burned out car.

Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe read a statement from the victim’s family before the sentencing.

They said of Osburn: “Her friends called her the mother of her group because she was the first to help those who needed help. … She could have been a shining light in our community.”

The victim's parents were pleased with the LWOP sentence, though they said that their daughter's killer deserved death.

"Brandon Nicholas Reed viciously and without mercy beat our precious daughter to near unconsciousness, cut her throat from ear to ear and held the front door closed as she attempted to run for help....Don’t be deceived into thinking you can change an abuser.”

Reed was accused of abusing Osburn before, and was on probaion for setting his ex-wife's car on fire. The victim's parents said Reed pretended that he loved her and got her to pay for his child suport because he was unemployed. They gave a warning to other victims.

"If you are in an abusive relationship, call for help NOW. If you can’t do it for yourself, please, do it for Christina and her family.”

No comments: