Behind every pull of the trigger there is a story.In the Kansas City ZIP code 64130, there are a lot of stories to tell.Its eight square miles, straddling Brush Creek downstream from the Country Club Plaza, is home to 101 convicted murderers incarcerated in Missouri prisons.No other ZIP code in Kansas City, St. Louis or any other part of the state comes close. Though its 26,000 residents make up about 6 percent of the city’s population, it accounts for 20 percent of Kansas Citians in prison for murder or voluntary manslaughter.If society set out to design an assembly line for producing killers, it’s hard to imagine a model any more efficient than what exists inside its boundaries, stretching from 39th to 63rd streets and bordered by Woodland and Topping avenues. It has become a murder factory that spans generations.In an unprecedented effort to better understand the destructive paths these inmates chose, The Star sent surveys to all 101 killers who listed 64130 as their home ZIP code with the Missouri Department of Corrections. To compare their experiences with others, The Star also sent surveys to about 270 other convicted killers from across the state.Thirty-eight from 64130 answered, as did more than 100 of the others. The Star followed up through phone interviews, letters and prison visits — and also interviewed 64130 residents, city leaders, former inmates, family members of inmates, police officials and beat cops, and local and national experts.Although the majority of 64130’s residents live lawfully, few interviewed said their families have been untouched by the violence. Longtime residents can point out where someone was killed, where drugs are sold or where a neighbor’s kid lived before he went to prison.“It can get rough around here sometimes with all the crime and the peer pressure from older guys,” said Arshell Avery, a mother of 16- and 8-year-old sons. “There are a lot of negative things they (kids) can get into. It’s easy to lose them.”And nothing separates 64130 from the rest of the metropolitan area. Six out of 10 of its killers committed their crimes elsewhere.Though each inmate has a unique story, many shared common experiences.Born mostly into poor families, nearly 60 percent of survey respondents grew up without fathers. As young men they were thrust into a prevailing street mentality that demanded a violent response to any insult. Guns could be obtained as cheaply and easily as illegal drugs. Two-thirds of survey respondents possessed guns as teenagers and nearly three-fourths were regular users of drugs and alcohol.Once caught up in that lifestyle, there’s no easy way out, the inmates say.“From what I’ve seen, this is more or less like a trap in the 64130 area,” said convicted killer Keith Carnes.At the time they killed, they ranged in age from 13 to 55. One-fifth committed murder as teenagers. Most already had criminal records when they killed in their 20s and 30s.Victims ranged from family members to rival drug dealers to innocent bystanders.Motives varied.Two teens beat a 15-year-old boy to death with a baseball bat to steal his tennis shoes.A young robber shot a Scout leader for refusing to turn over his wedding ring.A robbery gang killed a store manager because he didn’t know the combination to a safe.A 19-year-old massacred four family members, including a 9-year-old half-sister, after fighting with his stepfather.Sometimes, they killed for no reason at all.

Posted on Sat, Jan. 24, 2009 10:28 PM

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Murder Factory, Part 1: 64130, the ZIP code of notoriety in Missouri

By TONY RIZZO

The Kansas City Star

JILL TOYOSHIBA | The Kansas City Star

The signpost of a ZIP code racked by violence: A bullet blew a hole clear through this metal fence pillar at a home on Euclid Avenue at 53rd Street. The street is near the west edge of ZIP code 64130 — the ZIP code that has the most killers incarcerated in Missouri prisons.

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Behind every pull of the trigger there is a story.

In the Kansas City ZIP code 64130, there are a lot of stories to tell.

Its eight square miles, straddling Brush Creek downstream from the Country Club Plaza, is home to 101 convicted murderers incarcerated in Missouri prisons.

No other ZIP code in Kansas City, St. Louis or any other part of the state comes close. Though its 26,000 residents make up about 6 percent of the city’s population, it accounts for 20 percent of Kansas Citians in prison for murder or voluntary manslaughter.

If society set out to design an assembly line for producing killers, it’s hard to imagine a model any more efficient than what exists inside its boundaries, stretching from 39th to 63rd streets and bordered by Woodland and Topping avenues. It has become a murder factory that spans generations.

In an unprecedented effort to better understand the destructive paths these inmates chose, The Star sent surveys to all 101 killers who listed 64130 as their home ZIP code with the Missouri Department of Corrections. To compare their experiences with others, The Star also sent surveys to about 270 other convicted killers from across the state.

Thirty-eight from 64130 answered, as did more than 100 of the others. The Star followed up through phone interviews, letters and prison visits — and also interviewed 64130 residents, city leaders, former inmates, family members of inmates, police officials and beat cops, and local and national experts.

Although the majority of 64130’s residents live lawfully, few interviewed said their families have been untouched by the violence. Longtime residents can point out where someone was killed, where drugs are sold or where a neighbor’s kid lived before he went to prison.

“It can get rough around here sometimes with all the crime and the peer pressure from older guys,” said Arshell Avery, a mother of 16- and 8-year-old sons. “There are a lot of negative things they (kids) can get into. It’s easy to lose them.”

And nothing separates 64130 from the rest of the metropolitan area. Six out of 10 of its killers committed their crimes elsewhere.

Though each inmate has a unique story, many shared common experiences.

Born mostly into poor families, nearly 60 percent of survey respondents grew up without fathers. As young men they were thrust into a prevailing street mentality that demanded a violent response to any insult. Guns could be obtained as cheaply and easily as illegal drugs. Two-thirds of survey respondents possessed guns as teenagers and nearly three-fourths were regular users of drugs and alcohol.

Once caught up in that lifestyle, there’s no easy way out, the inmates say.

“From what I’ve seen, this is more or less like a trap in the 64130 area,” said convicted killer Keith Carnes.

At the time they killed, they ranged in age from 13 to 55. One-fifth committed murder as teenagers. Most already had criminal records when they killed in their 20s and 30s.

Victims ranged from family members to rival drug dealers to innocent bystanders.

Motives varied.

Two teens beat a 15-year-old boy to death with a baseball bat to steal his tennis shoes.

A young robber shot a Scout leader for refusing to turn over his wedding ring.

A robbery gang killed a store manager because he didn’t know the combination to a safe.

A 19-year-old massacred four family members, including a 9-year-old half-sister, after fighting with his stepfather.

Sometimes, they killed for no reason at all.

To reach Tony Rizzo, call 816-234-4435 or send e-mail to trizzo@kcstar.com.

Posted on Sat, Jan. 24, 2009 10:28 PM

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