On Tuesday, Johnson County District Judge Kelly Ryan formally sentenced Frazier Glenn Cross Jr. to death for the murder of William Corporon, Reat Underwood and Terri LaManno. He was convicted in August of capital murder and the jury recommended he be put to death in September.
Cross, also known as Frazier Glenn Miller, shot Corporon and his grandson Reat outside of the Jewish Community Campus on Sunday, April 14, 2014. {mprestriction ids="1,3"}They were at the Campus to attend auditions for KC SuperStar, the Jewish Community Center’s largest fundraiser. He then sped off to Village Shalom, where he shot LaManno. LaManno was at the senior living facility visiting her mother, who was a resident there.
Cross had one outburst in court while the judge was pronouncing his sentence, screaming “Heil Hitler,” along with other anti-Semitic comments before being escorted out of the courtroom. He was taken to another room where he could hear and see what was happening but could not disrupt the remainder of the proceedings.
Prior to the judge’s announcement, many family members of the victims appeared in court, speaking about their loved ones and what they have lost. Mindy Corporon, William Corporon’s daughter and Reat Underwood’s mother, gave a prepared statement in which she said she hoped their loved ones legacy is a wave of kindness. Instead of choosing hate, Corporon continued by saying, “I’m going to choose faith. They will be remembered as a ripple that changed the world.”
During her remarks, Corporon referenced Kristallnacht, also called the “Night of Broken Glass,” that refers to a wave of violent anti-Jewish pogroms that took place on Nov. 9 and 10, 1938. She mentioned how strangely ironic it is that the sentencing took place on the anniversary of that day.
Corporon also said the family will not allow their loved ones deaths to be political, noting that the right to bear arms is not the right to kill humans. William Corporon was a hunter and a member of the NRA. He took his grandsons, including Reat and his younger brother, Lukas Losen, hunting on many occasions.
During this time Corporon noted that SevenDays, the seven days of events established in April of this year in memory of the three shooting victims, are set to take place again in 2016. The formal announcement was made after the court proceedings.
Jim LaManno, the husband of Terri LaManno, also spoke at the proceedings, saying “evil devoured our loved ones, but not their spirit.”
In reference to the killings he said, “We will be remembered for the good we choose to do in the world.”
The Jewish Community Center issued the following statement regarding today’s sentencing.
“The Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City — The J — supports the criminal justice system in this process. While we continue to mourn the lives lost, we also look forward to a bright future for The J and the Jewish community.
“Our community was presented with, hopefully, a once in a lifetime set of circumstances last year. Three innocent lives were lost due to hate. The J, along with individuals, agencies, law enforcement and community partners, have worked on a path of education and enlightenment to honor the victims of that day while renewing and enhancing our commitment of service to the greater Kansas City community.
“We as a community are doing very well. The Jewish Community Center —The J — is committed to making something good out of the bad event that took place. While the victims and survivors of the shooting are always in our hearts and minds, life at The J has returned to normal. Attendance is up and new memberships are coming in at a steady rate.”
Village Shalom chose not to make a statement about the sentencing.
Cross is an avowed anti-Semite who has voiced over and over his hatred of Jews. The Midwest Center for Holocaust Education, the agency charged with teaching the history of the Holocaust, applying its lessons to counter indifference, intolerance and genocide, issued its own statement about the day’s events.
“Today’s sentencing of the convicted killer of three people outside of Overland Park Jewish facilities on April 13, 2014, may close this chapter, but it does not close the book on hatred. Rather, it should remind us of the need to educate current and future generations about the consequences of indifference and intolerance.
“Let us also remember the victims and honor them through acts of loving kindness, mutual respect, and taking a stand against bigotry.”
The Midwest Center for Holocaust Education teaches the history of the Holocaust, applying its lessons to counter indifference, intolerance, and genocide.
Chronicle contributing writer Ruth Baum Bigus contributed to this article.{/mprestriction}
