OLATHE, Kan. — The jury, consisting of seven men and five women, who were chosen from a pool of 200 to hear the case of a Missouri white supremacist accused of killing three people at two suburban Kansas City Jewish sites, gave their final verdict Monday.
Shortly after 4 p.m. after deliberating, the jury said that Frazier Glenn Cross (also known as Frazier Glenn Miller Jr.), 74, of Aurora, Missouri, was found guilty on all charges, including capital murder for the deaths of three individuals; 69-year-old William Corporon, Corporon’s 14-year-old grandson, Reat Underwood, and 43-year-old Terri LaManno.
During the trial, in which Cross chose to forgo an attorney and represented himself, he admitted to killing all three victims on April 13, 2014. He said he believed it was his duty to kill Jewish people because they’re endangering the existence of the white race.
After the jury’s verdict was delivered, a second hearing was requested to determine whether or not Cross will be put to death.
Earlier on Monday before jurors got the case, Cross delivered a rambling closing argument in which he described “floating on a cloud” after the killings. He said he was motivated by “the genocide against white people by Jews” and urged jurors to “show great courage” by finding him not guilty.
District Attorney Steve Howe wrapped up his case against Fraizer Glenn Cross Monday in a Johnson County courtroom.
Howe told jurors, “He willfully admits to brutally killing these people.”
In the first part of his closing statement that lasted about half an hour, Howe reminded the jury what that state has to prove.
“Did he kill three people, were they premeditated, and were they during a same-type of plan? We have to prove that Dr. William Corporon, Reat Underwood, and Terri LaManno were killed by the defendant on April 13. I think without a doubt, ladies and gentleman, the evidence supports that,” said Howe.
Howe called on Cross’ own testimony during the trial.
“’I planned it, I schemed it, I plotted it.’ Those were his words. His testimony in this trial, he indicated that yes he did, he killed those people,” Howe said.
He also charged the jury with making what he calls the obvious decision.
“Find him guilty of what he truly committed that day, which is capital murder,” said Howe.
The prosecutor told jurors the state had presented a “mountain of evidence” against the 74-year-old charged killer.
Howe said, pointing at Cross, “We have the DNA of William Corporan on his shoes and pants.”
In order to prove premeditation, the DA reminded jurors Cross had a flyer for talent competition KC SuperStar in his car, hosted the Jewish Community Center. Howe also pointed out evidence that included traffic cameras which showed Cross made more than one pass at each place.
Howe also brought up statements Cross made during jail phone calls about the shootings were part of his plan.
“He picked two Jewish facilities. Village Shalom, Jewish Community Center. He clearly had one plan of action,” he said.
Howe also told jurors, “Everything he did that day was with one intent. ‘I’m going to kill people.’ Those are in his own words. ‘I’m going to kill as many people as I can.’”
Cross objected when Howe alleged he wanted to kill as many people as possible. Cross interjected: “I wanted to kill Jews, not people.” He also made disparaging comments about the court system.
In the closing statement for the defense, after a brief break for a “medical situation,” Cross asked the jury for the opposite. “I want you folks to find me not guilty on all charges.”
But in that same speech, he talked about what he did. “On April 13, 2014, after I’d attacked two Jewish facilities and thought I’d killed some of my Jewish enemies. I felt such overpowering joy and exhilaration.”
He also told jurors after the killings, he felt “free, free, free.”
Cross continued by trying to justify his actions.
“Everything I did at the Jewish Community center and at Village Shalom, I did for our people to secure the existence of our people and a future for white children. There was nothing selfish about what I did. Everything I did was for you and for your children, grandchildren, and for future generations of our people,” said Cross.
He also cited his logic.
“We must do what George Washington and our pioneer forefathers did, that is to start an armed revolution against the Jewish occupation of the government,” he said.
Cross discussed no regret, saying, “I was floating on a cloud.” Instead, he asked the jury to join his cause by voting not guilty. “You too can become free now. You too can do your duty to your people.”
The jury, made up of seven men and five women, found Cross guilty on all charges in just about two hours. The sentencing phase continues Friday morning in Olathe.
Additional coverage:
Click here for past coverage of the Jewish Community Center and Village Shalom murders, and the victims Dr. William Corporon, his grandson, 14-year-old Reat Underwood, and Terri LaManno.
