Brice Rhodes: Man receives life sentence without parole in Louisville triple homicide

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion is advised.

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY: Brice Rhodes, convicted of one of the most gruesome murder cases in Louisville's history, has been sentenced to spend the remainder of his life behind bars, with no possibility of parole.

The conclusion of this trial, occurring seven years after the slayings of Christopher Jones, 40, Maurice Gordon, 16, and Larry Ordway, 14, has brought a semblance of closure to the victims' families, who endured a lengthy and tumultuous legal process.

The sentencing, delivered on Wednesday, March 13, prompted a range of emotions among the families of the deceased. Jones' sister, Antonia Jones, expressed relief that justice had been served, remarking, "I knew it was going to come. I just didn't think it would take this long."

For Larry and Maurice's grandmother, Deborah Wren, the life sentence without parole was essential to prevent further harm. "Because I wanted to hear that, life sentence with no parole, ever. So that he can't hurt another child, anyone because he's evil, and he needs to be in prison," she asserted.

Unraveling events that precipitated triple homicide

Anjuan Carter, an admitted accomplice, provided details surrounding the murders of the teens in May 2016.

Carter, who was a mere 15 years old at the time of the crimes, said he met Rhodes through the victimized brothers, Maurice and Larry, and had known the accused for only a few weeks before the violent incidents transpired.

The narrative unfolded as the accomplice revealed that he was present in the car on the night of May 4, 2016, when the suspect shot Jones in a drive-by shooting.

Shockingly, this event marked the beginning of a gruesome chain of killings, as weeks later, Larry and Maurice would meet their tragic end at Rhodes' hands. The disclosed that Rhodes, believing there was a bounty on Jones' life, initiated the drive-by shooting that set off the subsequent series of murders.

According to Carter, an altercation broke out during a gathering at Rhodes' residence, leading to a knife being aggressively brandished by Maurice. The perpetrator, in response, confiscated a "big combat knife" from Maurice, escalating the situation further by indicating his intention to "violate" the 16-year-old as a form of discipline.

The testimony took a darker turn as Carter described how Rhodes and his co-defendants, Jacorey Taylor, Tieren Coleman, and himself, put Larry and Maurice in a bathroom and subjected them to a horrifying vote on whether they should live or die. Carter was the sole dissenter in the group, but his objections fell on deaf ears.

“He put a sock in his mouth, tied his hands behind his back, and put a hat over his head,” Carter said, detailing that action Rhodes toward Maurice in the living room. “He started hitting him in the chest at first” with his fists before Coleman handed him a knife. He repeatedly stabbed Maurice, who was on his knees.

Larry, bound and gagged, suffered a similar fate, enduring multiple stabbings as well.  The victims were placed in containers to be transported to an abandoned house where they would be set ablaze. Carter, left behind to clean the blood-soaked crime scene, recounted how the bodies were later burned at a separate location.

Insights from Brice Rhodes' trial 

Throughout the trial, Rhodes' disruptive behavior and threats toward attorneys and judges prolonged the legal proceedings. However, on the day of his sentencing, the suspect remained silent, a departure noted by the families of the victims.

Despite the absence of an apology from Rhodes, the families find solace in the knowledge that their loved ones received justice. Shan Jones, Jones' brother, described the lingering pain caused by the loss, expressing, "The hole in my heart is still not closed. You know like I said my mother is gone and my brother is gone and this is all I got right here. This is all I got,” reported Wave.

The brutality of the murders, highlighted during the trial, served as a poignant reminder of the preciousness of life. Maurice and Larry's grandmother, Jackie Partee, condemned Rhodes's actions, emphasizing the humanity of the victims. "They were not trash. They were human beings, and they loved life," she declared.

”Everything about this case is horrific. And when I came on the bench, it was very important for me to get this case tried, to get a resolution for everyone on both sides, and I needed to be done,” said Judge Julie Kaelin, presiding over the case.

“And I am satisfied that is done, that is over and that has been served. The jury was in the absolute best position to determine what the appropriate sentence should be.”