A man who shot and killed a woman during an argument in his home pled no contest to Second-Degree Murder Monday and was sentenced to 50 years in prison, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.
Luke Eric Kirkland, 46, was set to go to trial this week for Second-Degree Murder and being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Instead, before a jury was picked, Kirkland entered his plea. Circuit Court Judge Dustin Stephenson accepted it and adjudicated the defendant guilty.
Prosecutor Frank Sullivan was prepared to call witnesses and present evidence, from the recovery of the murder weapon at a family member’s home to the victim’s blood on the defendant’s clothing, to prove the case. The evidence would have shown the defendant was arguing with victim Alyson “Amanda” Jones, 45, and when she said she was leaving he shot her in the head.
“This was a completely senseless and unprovoked act by the defendant that instantly took the life of a woman who was causing no harm,” Prosecutor Frank Sullivan said. “The investigation and evidence gathered by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office was strong as evidenced by the defendant’s plea.”
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A witness in the residence left the home after the shooting and soon told a friend, who called the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. At about the same time deputies arrived, a family member of the victim called the Sheriff’s Office asking for a welfare check on the victim.
Deputies reported the defendant talked to them at the door but gave conflicting statements and at one point asked, “What if there’s a body in here?” Based on the circumstances, deputies entered the home and found the victim in the bathtub, wrapped in linen. After obtaining a search warrant, they determined the victim was Alyson “Amanda” Jones, 45. She had been shot once in the forehead.
The revolver used in the crime was found in the home of one of the defendant’s family members.
The defendant’s roommate, who was at the residence at the time of the shooting, was located by Panama City Beach Police near the County Pier.
Blood on the defendant’s pants was matched to the victim through DNA. The defendant’s DNA was also found on the handle and trigger of the murder weapon.
Basford thanked the Bay County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division and Crime Scene Unit for their work on the case and Panama City Beach Police for locating the key witness the next morning on the beach.
For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.