21 November 2023 , 16:09
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A group of teenagers charged in relation to a carjacking that resulted in the dragging and dismemberment of a grandma have managed to land a plea deal after originally facing life behind bars.
Three of the four teens involved in the incident, Briniyah Baker, 17, Lenyra Theophile, 16, and Mar'Qel Curtis, have pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of attempted manslaughter, meaning they will be sentenced to 20 years behind bars instead of life. The plea deals came as part of a truly horrific case that shocked many.
Four teenage defendants were charged as adults, initially with second-degree murder, in connection to the death of Linda Frickey, 73. The elderly woman was dragged for almost a block as the teens attempted to make off with her car after her arm became stuck in her seatbelt.
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Two of the teens were identified by their parents after police released CCTV footage of the incident (WVUE)
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The teenagers stopped the vehicle for a moment simply to open the door and kick the grandmother into the street. After having been dragged with her arm caught, Linda was dumped onto the street with her arm severed and clothing torn off.
The three teens, Baker, Theophile and Curtis, will serve a minimum of 15 years each after agreeing to a plea deal. Two expressed remorse in court while one girl's attorney offered prayers.
Linda's sister, Jinnylynn Griffin, said outside court: "When they were saying they were sorry, I'm sure they were. Unfortunately, they did it and they have to serve the time."
Linda Frickey, 73, was killed after she was dragged alongside her car after her arm got stuck (WDSU)The last defendant, 18-year-old John Honore, is still facing charges of second-degree murder and life in prison. Ms Griffin said of Honore: "We want him to get the maximum. He drove the car. He stomped on her.
"The girls, they were all there for the ride, but the issue we had with them is they didn't do anything to stop it." The guilty plea bargain comes more than a year after Linda died.
The grandmother was dragged down the street in New Orleans in March 2022 after the teens stole her car. A witness said: "The lady was trying to put something in her vehicle, the guy jumped in and kicked her out and she got caught in the wheel well."
John Honore, 18, is still awaiting his trial (WVUE)After seeing what had happened, one shocked neighbour, Leanne Mascar, grabbed a sheet to cover Linda after she was left lying in the road, dismembered and naked. She explained: "When I looked down her body was already there, and her arm was... it's just not something you expect to see. She was laying there naked, and I thought the indignity she just suffered, it was already too much."
Leanne's husband Mark sat with Linda's body until the ambulance arrived. Her official cause of death was found to be as a result of "blunt force injuries".
Briniyah Baker, 17, Lenyra Theophile, 16, and Mar'Qel Curtis (pictured) pleaded guilty to attempted manslaughter Monday (WVUE)Ultimately, her grey SUV was found 13 blocks from where she had been left in the street. Following the horrific incident, police released CCTV footage of the suspect, which led to two of the teens being turned in by their own parents.
In March 2023, Theophile was found incompetent to stand trial and was sent to a mental health facility for 60 days. Linda's sister-in-law Kathy Richard said: "We appreciate that they did admit their guilty and accept their punishment and hopefully as time goes on, everyone can heal."
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Speaking of Honore, who still awaits sentencing, she simply said: "We'll give him the same mercy he gave Linda: none."
Kathy hopes the girls will "get involved in programs" during their time behind bars so they can be "an example that there are consequences for your actions". Honore's trial is due to begin on November 27 with a jury being seated on Monday afternoon.