LEGAL PURGATORY: Long, Tiring Road to Justice for Indian Creek Trail Killings’ Families
Kansas City, MO – The city of Kansas City, with a horrifying history of over 300 recorded murders in 2016-2017 alone, finds itself in the eye of the storm once again as it grapples with an especially chilling murder case.
The KC Trail Area Homicides
Six murders that occurred in this period are believed to have been committed by one man, Fredrick Scott. Known collectively as the “KC Trail Area Homicides” or more commonly as the “Indian Creek Trail killings”, this eerie string of murders is comprised primarily of middle-aged white men killed on or near trails, with one female victim.
The first horrific event took place in August 2016, while the last reported murder happened exactly a year later in August 2017. Michael Darby was the fourth victim, gunned down on May 18, 2017, while out walking his pet Labrador dogs, Coach and Sadie, along the Indian Creek Trail. Darby was shot from behind, and his murder, like the others, remains unsolved.
Alarmingly, the case of the KC Trail Area Homicides has never gone to trial, despite the arrest and charge of Scott soon after the last murder. This has resulted in seven grueling years of waiting for justice for the victims’ families, a wait that they believe has already been far too long.
A Family’s Fight for Justice
The family of Michael Darby has expressed their disappointment and frustration with what they perceive as cracks in the Jackson County justice system. Environmentally far too familiar with courtrooms and continuances, they describe their experience as nothing short of a “legal purgatory”, simmering in the inaction of the local legal authorities.
Following Scott’s charge over six years ago, the case has seen a musical chairs version of legal representation, changing public defenders four times. This frequent change has repeatedly reset the progress of the case, resulting in trial dates being established and subsequently postponed six times.
Increasing Concerns and Questions
A key question looming over the case is the competency of Scott to stand trial. He has been delivered conflicting verdicts of competency and incompetency over the years. His refusal to consistently comply with his mental health treatment has added further fuel to this fire. Even as the trial continues to stall, the families of the victims await justice, calling attention to the apparent flaws within the Jackson County justice system.
The family questions the absence of hate crime or serial killer charges, especially considering all victims were white while Scott is Black. They also highlight Scott’s disturbing past remarks in 2014 about his intentions to orchestrate a “Columbine-style” school shooting and his threat to, “kill all white people”.
Calling for Action
The Darby family and others united in their grief and frustration are voicing their exasperation publicly, fervently calling for the justice system’s intervention. They contend that this isn’t only about them or Michael Darby, but a plea for justice for all victims and families left in limbo by the Jackson County justice system. Despite approaches made to the prosecutor’s office, the public defender’s office, and the judge presiding over the case, all declined to comment.
