Three Louisiana teens who carjacked New Orleans woman, 73, and dismembered her by dragging her behind her vehicle strike plea deals that’ll see them jailed for 20 years
Three of the four Louisiana teens charged in the carjacking and dragging death of an elderly woman received a plea deal after initially serving life in prison.
Briniyah Baker, 17, Lenyra Theophile, 16, and Mar’Qel Curtis pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of attempted manslaughter and will be sentenced to 20 years.
All four defendants had been charged as adults with second-degree murder in connection with the death of 73-year-old Linda Frickey, who was dragged nearly a block after her arm became stuck in her seat belt.
The teenagers stopped the car briefly to open the door and kicked the grandmother into the street – after her arm was cut and clothes were torn off.
The three teens will each serve a minimum of 15 years. Two of them expressed their regret in court, while a girl’s lawyer offered prayers.
Briniyah Baker, 17, Lenyra Theophile, 16, and Mar’Qel Curtis (pictured) pleaded guilty Monday to attempted manslaughter
John Honore, 18, remains charged as an adult with second-degree murder. He faces life in prison
The teens were involved in the 2022 carjacking and dragging death of 73-year-old Linda Frickey
“When they said they were sorry, I’m sure they were. Unfortunately, they did it and they have to serve the sentence,” Frickey’s sister, Jinnylynn Griffin, said outside court.
The final defendant, 18-year-old John Honore, remains charged with manslaughter and life in prison.
‘We want him to get the most out of it. He drove the car. He stomped on her,” Griffin said.
“The girls were all there for the ride, but the problem we had with them is they didn’t do anything to stop it.”
The guilty plea comes more than a year after Frickey’s death.
In March 2022, the 73-year-old grandmother was dragged down North Scott Street in New Orleans after the group of teens stole her car.
“The lady tried to put something in her car and the guy jumped in and kicked her out and she got stuck in the steering wheel,” a witness said. WWL TV.
A neighbor, Leanne Mascar, grabbed a sheet to cover Frickey after she was left in the road.
“When I looked down, her body was already there, and her arm was – it’s just not something you expect to see,” Mascar said. Fox 8.
“She lay there naked, and the humiliation she had just suffered was already too much for me.”
Surveillance footage showed the teens getting into Frickey’s gray SUV before her arm got caught in the seat belt and she was dragged down the block.
The grandmother screamed for her attackers to let her go before her arm was cut off and clothes torn off
The gray SUV (pictured) was found thirteen blocks from where it was left on the street
Frickey’s official cause of death was listed as ‘blunt force injuries’
Mascar’s husband Mark sat next to Frickey as they waited for the ambulance to arrive.
Her official cause of death was listed as “blunt force injuries.”
Frickey’s gray SUV was found 13 blocks from where she was left on the street.
Police have released surveillance images of the suspects and two of the teens have been reported by their parents.
In March 2023, Theophile was deemed incompetent to stand trial and was sent to a mental health facility for 60 days.
“We appreciate that they have admitted their guilt and accepted their punishment and hopefully everyone can heal as time passes,” Frickey’s sister-in-law, Kathy Richard, said Monday.
Of Honore, she said, “We will give him the same mercy as Linda: none.”
Richard hopes that the girls “get involved in programs” while in captivity to “set an example that there are consequences for your actions.”
Honore’s trial will begin on November 27. A jury met Monday afternoon.