Family upset after plea deal made in Kansas City, Kansas, teen’s 2014 killing

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Days after a Kansas man pleads no contest and is convicted in the death of a 16-year-old, that teen’s family says he’s getting a slap on the wrist after a first-degree murder charge was pled down to involuntary manslaughter.

“I’m not surprised – that’s my only reaction,” Vinson Smith, Deleisha Kelly’s Uncle said.

The family has its suspicions, but the Kansas Attorney General says a prominent family member of the convicted felon played no role in this case.

Billy Dupree is the nephew of Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree.

Unprompted, the State AG’s spokesperson said, “any suggestion that the judge or the Attorney General’s Office was influenced in any way by Mr. Dupree’s family connections is false.”

Deleisha Kelley was killed in 2014. For nine long years, this family waited for charges in her murder.

That wait ended last year when Billy Dupree was indicted for first-degree premeditated murder .

The victim’s family believed the evidence was overwhelming, that prosecutors had a strong case.
In fact, Monday was supposed to be the first day of the trial.

Instead, the family says they’ve been rocked by an unexpected deal between the state attorney general’s office and the defendant.

“Just the theory of life itself in general, like it’s not always fair,” Smith said.

Kelley was killed in KCK but her body was dumped in Kansas City, Missouri, wrapped in a blanket, in her underwear.

Kelley’s body was found December 21, on E. 24th Street. Twelve days later, Kansas City, Missouri police identified Kelley.

Court documents show a DNA test linked the victim to Billy Dupree.

But it’s the plea deal he made last Friday with the state that has the family so upset.

“The difference between first-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter is huge,” Gary Stone said.

It is a lesser charge that this family believes doesn’t match the actions alleged by the state.

Defense attorney Gary Stone says the public may never know why prosecutors made this deal.

“For what ever reason, in this case, the prosecutor made this plea offer and the reason they made that plea offer is something only the prosecutor will know,” Stone said.

In a statement, the state AG’s office tells FOX4:

“In determining whether to enter into a plea agreement, ethical prosecutors must consider a host of factors, including the interests of the victim, the likelihood of obtaining a conviction at trial, the desirability of prompt and certain disposition of the case, the probable sentence or other consequences if the defendant is convicted, the probable effect on witnesses, and the expense of trial and appeal. In this case, after consultation with the victim’s family, prosecutors determined that it was in the interests of justice to enter a plea agreement that guaranteed Mr. Dupree would serve many years in prison. It should be noted that, in exchange for his plea, Mr. Dupree has agreed to a sentence that is more severe than what the Kansas sentencing guidelines would ordinarily require” Danedri Herbert, Director of Communications Kansas Attorney General’s Office.

Prosecutors will ask Dupree to serve 15 years, running concurrently as an 11-year sentence he’s already serving for robbery and other crimes.

Brian Betts is CEO and founder of Elite Legal Services. He spent 25 years behind bars before the Missouri parole board determined he was wrongly convicted. As a victim’s advocate now, he says this family should be upset.

“The people who have been tasked with protecting and serving our community and who have sworn an oath to do so have completely abandoned that and are neglecting their duties. What was done to this child was horrible, it was horrific,” Betts said.

“Now seeing the outcome, I’m not surprised by the outcome, and I don’t have anything to say to that little boy,” Smith said.

Billy Dupree will be back in a courtroom in late November for sentencing.

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