Jones Co. woman loses appeal in murder case
Published 11:06 pm Wednesday, December 9, 2009
The state Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of Wanda Blakeney for her role in the 2006 murders of her grandparents.
The Appeals Court on Tuesday rejected arguments that there was no direct evidence that linked Blakeney to the crimes. The court says Blakeney confessed to planning the murders and with helping to dispose of the bodies.
Blakeney was convicted in Jones County in 2007 of two counts of murder and sentenced to two consecutive life terms.
Her husband was convicted in the case and sent to prison for life.
Prosecutors say Willie and Anita Kitchens were strangled after being stunned by a stun gun. Their bodies were placed in a car and driven to a spot near the Wayne County line, where the killers tried to set the car on fire.