SEDGWICK COUNTY—A man who stole a family's SUV and dragged a 13-year-old girl to her death is going to prison.
On Wednesday, a judge sentenced 36-year-old Kevin Palmer to 41- years in prison for the death of Brianna Ibarra, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. In August, Palmer pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
In February of 2021 Brianna Ibarra, was sitting in a running SUV waiting for her family to pick up food when Palmer jumped in and drove away, according to officer Charley Davidson.
She became tangled in a seat belt when she tried to escape as the vehicle was moving and was dragged several miles.
Police arrested Palmer after he tried to run away from the vehicle. First responders pronounced the girl dead at the scene.
At the time, Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay said the girl's death is "one of the saddest cases I have been associated with in my years of law enforcement."