Jacobe Payton sentenced to 78 years in prison for killing 8-year-old DeโMaree Adkins in 2017, DA says
HOUSTON โ A man found guilty of the murder of an 8-year-old in 2017 was sentenced to 78 years in prison Wednesday, according to the Fort Bend County District Attorneyโs Office. In Feb. 2017, 8-year-old DeโMaree Adkins was asleep in the backseat of her motherโs car when she was shot and killed after a wreck near the intersection of Fuqua Street and Beltway 8. DeโMareeโs mother, Latoyia Thomas, told police at the time that a white Pontiac Grand Prix and a dark four-door sedan were speeding down West Fuqua Street. Later, Jacobe Payton, who was 19 years old at the time, was arrested and charged with murder in connection with DeโMareeโs death. Thomas told jurors she thought Payton was a woman because he had long dreadlocks at the time of the shooting.
Jacobe Payton found guilty of killing 8-year-old DeโMaree Adkins in 2017
DeโMareeโs mother, Latoyia Thomas, told police at the time that a white Pontiac Grand Prix and a dark four-door sedan were speeding down West Fuqua Street. Later, Jacobe Payton, who was 19 years old, was arrested and charged with murder in connection with DeโMareeโs death. Somebody had to pay for what theyโve done,โ said Detram Adkins, DeโMareeโs father. Family members of De'Maree Adkins tearfully celebrate after Jacobe Payton handed guilty verdict at Fort Bend County courtroom on Feb. 11, 2020. Thomas told jurors she thought Payton was a woman because he had long dreadlocks at the time of the shooting.
Testimony underway for man accused of shooting, killing 8-year-old girl
RICHMOND, Texas โ A man charged with shooting and killing an 8-year-old girl after a crash nearly three years ago got underway in a Fort Bend County courtroom. Prosecutors used their opening statement to remind the jury of the pain and anguish Payton caused by the senseless killing of the young girl. In the defenseโs opening statement, attorney James Rivera told jurors the authoritiesโ position to pin this horrific crime on someone should not overshadow what the evidence showed. Thomas told jurors she thought Payton was female because he had dreadlocks at the time of the shooting. โAs he sits here today, heโs an innocent man and heโs an innocent man in this case," Rivera said.