Reginald Kimbro, Plano, has pleaded guilty to capital murder charges in two counties and sexual assault charges in four counties. Kimbro, 28, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Kimbro was set to stand trial for capital murder in Tarrant County court next week after attorneys spent weeks picking two separate juries. The first case was called off in 202 after the coronavirus closed the courts.
The case involved the April 9, 2017 rape and strangulation of Molly Jane Matheson, 22, Fort Worth. The two had previously dated when Matheson attended the University of Arkansas. The two were not dating at the time of her murder, prosecutors said.
Matheson’s body was discovered the day after her death. Kimbro attempted to destroy evidence by washing her in the shower and washing her clothes. His mistake was leaving his underwear at the scene.
Five days after killing Matheson, Kimbro raped and strangled Megan Getrum, 36 Plano, after attacking her at the Arbor Hills Nature Preserve. Her body was found in Lake Ray Hubbard. It took several days for Plano Police to connect witness descriptions and DNA to the Fort Worth case.
Under the plea deal, Kimbro was also sentenced to life without parole for the Dallas County case.
Kimbro had been a sexual predator who flew under the radar for years. He first struck in 2012, sexually assaulting a Plano woman. He struck again in South Padre during the spring break in 2014, then two more times in Collin County.
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The plea agreement required Kimbro to confess to all the crimes.
“The families of our victims had been proceeding on in this process for five years, and some of our extraneous victims had been proceeding on in this process for 10 years,” said Allenna Bangs, the lead prosecutor in the case.
While there had been discussions about potential plea deals, none had ever been serious offers, until the last few days with the trial looming, Bangs said. “When they did bring it to us late in the game here with signed paperwork, obviously we feel like it’s our duty to consult with the families and see how they feel about proceeding forward.”
All the victims had to be contacted in Cameron County, Collin County and Dallas County. “It was important for (the families) to hear him say the words that he was guilty. That he did do it, as opposed to a trial where you get to persist that you are not guilty.”
The plea deal means Kimbro will not face a potential death sentence but he will never be free, either.
“Unless there’s some dramatic law change that they find life without parole unconstitutional, which I don’t think will happen, they will only come out of prison in a pine box.” said Toby Shook an attorney not connected to the case but who has been on both the prosecution and defense lawyer.
The decision for the defense to offer, and the prosecutors in four counties to accept, a plea deal in such a serious case is unusual.
“That is rare because they had already selected the jury for the death penalty case, which can take weeks to do. Usually when you go that far the trial takes place.” Shook said.
Victim impact statements will be held Tuesday.
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