Clifton Ray

Timeline

• May 24, 1990 — Joycie Flowers was killed by strangling.
• 1987 — Deborah Taylor was killed by strangling.
• 1990 — Clifton Ray was convicted for the murder of Joycie Flowers.
• 1995 — Ray was convicted of a murder involving the strangling of his neighbor.
• 2007 — Ray was sentenced to life in prison.

Background

Clifton Ray was the subject of prosecutions described as ending a serial killer’s career. A Jackson County jury convicted Clifton Ray on a Friday of strangling Joycie Flowers. His only possible sentence for first-degree murder was life without parole.

The offence

Clifton Ray was convicted of strangling Joycie Flowers, with prosecutors saying her body was found in a homeless camp. Prosecutors also said Ray was about to be paroled three years before, but DNA evidence led to charges.

Prosecutors used DNA evidence to charge Clifton Ray with the 1987 murder of Deborah Taylor and the 1990 murder of Flowers. In both cases, the women were strangled and semen with DNA matching Ray’s was found in or on them.

The defense argued that Flowers and Ray may have had sex, but that did not prove Ray killed her. The defense further argued that another man may have killed Flowers after Ray had sex with her.

Investigation

After the verdict, a prosecutor told jurors that Ray’s DNA matched that on Deborah Taylor and another victim. The prosecutor said charges could not be filed in that case because samples mistakenly were destroyed.

Prosecutors argued unsuccessfully before trial that the Flowers and Taylor homicides were linked by DNA and should be tried together. Judge Charles Atwell ruled that Missouri case law did not allow the use of DNA as a sole reason to try cases together.

Trial

A Jackson County jury convicted Clifton Ray on Friday of strangling Joycie Flowers. An earlier trial had ended in a hung jury when two jurors agreed with the defense argument.

Defense attorney David Bell said he would appeal and declined to comment further.

After the verdict, Flowers’ daughter, Janel Flowers of Kansas City, cried on the shoulder of assistant prosecutor Dan Miller. Janel Flowers said: “She can rest in peace now,” and then “Praise God.” Assistant prosecutor Dan Miller said: “It’s about time. I don’t know what else to say.”

The defense argued that the possibility that Flowers and Ray had sex did not establish that Ray killed her, and argued that another man may have killed Flowers after Ray had sex with her.

Sentencing

Ray’s only possible sentence for first-degree murder was life without parole. Ray was sentenced to life in prison in 2007.

Appeals

Defense attorney David Bell said he would appeal.

Outcome

The conviction of Clifton Ray for the 1990 strangling case was described as ending a serial killer’s career. Prosecutors said Ray killed Flowers about May 24, 1990. Prosecutors said Ray was a suspect in about six other murders.

The Deborah Taylor murder case was stated as pending.

Assistant prosecutor Dan Miller said he would try Ray for Taylor’s homicide.

Miller predicted that Missouri law soon would allow cases to be linked on DNA evidence, which some states already allow.

Other details

Ray was about to be paroled three years before after a 1995 murder conviction for strangling his neighbor. Prosecutors said DNA evidence was used to charge him with additional murders, including the 1987 murder of Deborah Taylor and the 1990 murder of Joycie Flowers.