Guilty plea in 2013 fatal stabbing that inspired Independence victim advocate group

A Kansas City man pleaded guilty Thursday to fatally stabbing another man in Independence in 2013.

John D. Seger pleaded guilty in Jackson County Circuit Court to voluntary manslaughter in the killing of Corey Laykovich.

Seger, 26, was sentenced Thursday to nine years in prison.

According to court documents, Seger and Laykovich got into an argument and physical disturbance that ended with the stabbing.

The case went uncharged for years and inspired Laykovich’s mother to found the victim advocate group Corey’s Network, Inc.

Police broke the homicide case in early 2016, when Seger was arrested in an unrelated incident.

When questioned about the stabbing, he admitted that he had stabbed Laykovich. He told police that he had disarmed Laykovich, who pulled the knife during the incident.

This story was originally published November 8, 2018 at 2:03 PM.