New Orleans teen John Honore is found guilty of murdering grandmother Linda Frickey who was dragged from car in violent hijacking
- John Honore, 18, turned down a plea deal that would have given him 20 years
- He now faces a mandatory life sentence after being convicted of murder
- Linda Frickey’s body hung from her car until her arm was severed
A New Orleans teenager has been found guilty of killing grandmother Linda Frickey, who had one of her arms ripped off during a violent carjacking last March.
John Honore, 18, rejected a plea deal his accomplices accepted, risking his life in prison instead. It took a jury less than four hours to convict him Monday.
Frickey, 73, was leaving a local business when the gang of teens approached her around 1:30 p.m. on March 21, 2022.
They drove with her body still in the car, trapped by her seat belt, until one of her arms was severed. It was one of the most violent car jackings the city has ever seen.
John Honore, 18, was convicted of manslaughter for the gruesome killing in 2022. He now faces life in prison
Linda Frickey, 73, was killed in the savage attack. She was driving when the gang of youths approached her and tried to throw her out of the car
Briniyah Baker, 17, Lenyra Theophile, 16, and Mar’Qel Curtis (pictured) pleaded guilty Monday to attempted manslaughter
Three other youths took plea deals that included a manslaughter conviction and a 30-year prison sentence.
They are Briniyah Baker, 17, Lenyra Theophile, 16, and Mar’Qel Curtis. All four were arrested last year after police shared surveillance images of them on the day of the attack.
One of the girls’ mothers marched her to the police station after recognizing her from the surveillance footage.
Earlier this month, all three were sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Honore was convicted of manslaughter and now faces a mandatory life sentence.
His lawyers tried to plead his case, claiming he was an idiotic adolescent incapable of making decisions knowing the severity of their consequences.
In a letter to Frickey’s family, he begged for mercy.
“To the family of Mrs. Linda Frickey, my name is John and I am so sorry that I apologize for making you go through what you are going through. No one’s family should have to experience this kind of pain.
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 and clothes torn off
Honore wrote a letter to Frickey’s family begging for mercy
‘I made the biggest mistake of my life that day. I think about what you and the family go through every day. I say the “Our Father” prayer every day and night.
‘I ask for forgiveness every day. I’ve wanted to write you a letter for a long time, but I didn’t know what to say and I still don’t know what to say.
“I just want you to know sincerely that I’m sorry.
“I know words can change how you feel, but I want you to know that I am aware of how serious this is and I believe I am doing the right thing.”
After his conviction, members of Frickey’s family celebrated.
“I hope he feels the fear she had in her heart that day. “I hope he feels the pain and hears himself screaming for mercy and the pain doesn’t come,” said a family member.