Ken Tillery of Jasper, Texas, was murdered on January 19, 2002. On the night of his murder, Tillery, a white man, was outside of a suspected crackhouse when he was approached by three black males, Darrell Gilbert, Blake Little, and Anthony Holmes, and offered a ride in their vehicle, an early 1980s 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, despite the fact that two years earlier they had ruled as a hate crime the murder and dragging of James Byrd, a black man, by three white men. . 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.
Famous quotes containing the word ken:
“Is America a land of God where saints abide for ever? Where golden fields spread fair and broad, where flows the crystal river? Certainly not flush with saints, and a good thing, too, for the saints sent buzzing into man’s ken now are but poor- mouthed ecclesiastical film stars and cliché-shouting publicity agents.
Their little knowledge bringing them nearer to their ignorance,
Ignorance bringing them nearer to death,
But nearness to death no nearer to God.”
—Sean O’Casey (1884–1964)