Brian Keith Lord

Brian Keith Lord is an American murderer. His case was featured on "Forensic Files".

Incidents

Murders

At age 13, Lord murdered his friend's mother by shooting her in the back as she hung clothes on a clothesline. [http://www.forensicfiles.com/episodes.htm "Forensic Files", episode "Material Witness"] ] "For that crime, Lord served only six months in a juvenile detention facility and was released." In 1986, at age 25, he was hired as a carpenter at the home of neighbors of 16-year old Tracy Parker, Wayne and Sharon Frye. [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/printer_friendly.pl?page=9th/9799025.html U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, Lord v Wood] ] Lord subsequently became acquainted with Tracy who often rode horses owned by the Fryes. Finding himself alone with her on the night of September 16, 1986, Lord got her into his truck in the guise of a ride home. He drove to his brother's workshop, somehow coerced her into going inside, and raped and murdered her.cite web|url=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/119708_lord29.html|title=Inmate says DNA proves innocence|accessdate=2007-08-12|date=2003|publisher=Seattle Post-Intelligencer]

Investigation

Investigation into Tracy's disappearance initially focused on the Fryes. Her last discernible interaction was a telephone call made by her to her friend from their residence. A manhunt took place and some of her blood-soaked clothes were found in a wooded area on the weekend of September 20th. Her semi-nude body was found on September 30th.

Investigators began looking at Lord after it was found that he called his family roughly ten minutes prior to Tracy from the same phone. Lord denied any involvement and informed police that he had traveled to his brother's workshop that night. The workshop was investigated as a possible murder location leading to the discovery of a large blood spot on the floor; samples of material from the workshop were collected. A green paint chip found on Tracy's body was matched to a dismantled fence that Lord had hauled in his truck incriminating him.

Prosecution

Lord was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death in 1987. During the trial, he leveled threats at the Parker family. His death sentence was voided in 1997, his conviction was overturned in 1999, and after much delay, in 2003 he was given a new trial. Lord was again convicted and given a life sentence.Lord graduated in 1980 from North Kitsap High School in Poulsbo, WA.

References