Final defendants admit burglary roles in 2010 killing of KC businessman Michael Tutera
The last two defendants charged in the 2010 killing of Kansas City businessman Michael Tutera have pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary.
On Friday, Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Sandra Midkiff set sentencing for Joel Thomas and Michael Dear for Sept. 26.
Both initially had been charged with second-degree murder. They made statements regarding their roles in the killing in exchange for the reduced charges, according to a prosecutor’s office spokesman. Prosecutors made a similar agreement with another defendant, Robert Frazier.
Last October, Frazier, who also had faced a second-degree murder charge, pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary as part of an agreement with prosecutors to give a complete statement to police. Prosecutors agreed to reduce the charge after Frazier was identified as being in the vehicle that took other defendants to the Tutera home, where Tutera was killed.
In January, Frazier received a 12-year prison sentence. In May 2012, Troy Davis pleaded guilty to murder in exchange for two consecutive 10-year sentences. Brothers Matthew and Joseph Hendrix pleaded guilty to murder and received sentences of 25 and 14 years, respectively.
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This story was originally published July 15, 2014 at 5:51 PM with the headline "Final defendants admit burglary roles in 2010 killing of KC businessman Michael Tutera."