Topeka Resident Sentenced for Second Degree Murder and Other Charges

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces Topeka resident Brittny Marie Adams, 20; was sentenced today to serve 155 months in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections for intentional second degree murder and six months for each of two counts of felony criminal threat, which were made to a corrections officer at the Douglas County Jail.  The sentences are to run consecutively for a total of 167 months. 

Officers with the Lawrence Police Department were called by a neighbor to the 600 block of Michigan Street in Lawrence on Wednesday, July 17, 2013 at approximately 6:20 p.m.  Murder victim Mr. Gary Edens had been shot in the back of the head by the defendant after a brief struggle just outside the front door of his apartment.

Adam’s co-defendant in the case, Johnathan R. Rush, 29, was sentenced February 3, to 40 months in the penitentiary on a federal gun charge, unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction, for his role in the crime.

Today’s hearing was held in the courtroom of the Honorable Sally D. Pokorny.  The case was investigated by the Lawrence Police Department, with assistance provided by the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office.  It was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Eve Kemple and D.A. Branson.