‘I’m going to miss her forever’: Family and friends remember Brianna Ibarra
4 October 2023
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The man charged in the dragging death of a 13-year-old Wichita girl has been sentenced.
On Wednesday morning, a judge sentenced Kevin Palmer to 493 months (41.1 years) in prison for the death of Brianna Ibarra. Palmer pleaded guilty in August to second-degree (reckless) murder.
Police say Palmer stole the Ibarra family’s SUV from a restaurant parking lot in west Wichita on Feb. 6, 2021. The family was inside getting food, but Brianna stayed in the car and was sitting in the backseat.
As Palmer drove the car, Brianna tried to get out but got caught in the seat belt. She ended up being dragged for several miles. A citizen saw the deadly situation, called 911, and followed the vehicle. At Kellogg and West Street, Palmer stopped the vehicle and fled on foot. Police caught him quickly.
Brianna died from her injuries.
Prosecutors originally charged Palmer with murder in the first degree in the commission of a felony and theft of property or services valued between $1,500 and $25,000.
Palmer apologized to the family during the sentencing hearing.
“There’s no words that I can say that will express how sorry I am that this happened and how much I regret what happened,” he said. “Every single day, every single night, I can’t sleep, and I’m just in torment because of what happened and what I caused, and I didn’t know, I didn’t know that she was in the car, and I didn’t know that she was stuck in the seat belt, but at the same time, it was my stupidity that is the reason why this happened.”
Prosecutors have trouble believing that Palmer did not know there was someone in the car.
“If the guy in the other car can hear her, how in God’s name did he not,” District Attorney Marc Bennett said.
Jacob Wetta spoke on behalf of the family after the sentencing. He said they are happy with the sentence.
“Of course, the family would always love to have their, have Brianna back with us, but with the laws the way they are, 493 months in jail is a long time. He’ll be well into his 70s before he gets the opportunity to get out,” Wetta said.
He said the lengthy legal process has been very difficult for the family, but they can now begin the healing process.
“There’s been really no healing over the last two and a half years because this has always been looming,” Wetta said. “So, this gives the family that opportunity to heal and take the steps forward from now on.”