Cavona Flenoy

Case summary

Cavona C. Flenoy, 20, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for second degree murder on January 21, 2011, for the shooting death of Hassan A. Abbas in March 2010 in Kansas City, Kansas. During the sentencing, Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd described the conduct as involving a gun purchased after meeting the victim, the murder at the victim’s Riverside apartment, and the theft of the victim’s wallet and car.

Timeline

• March 9, 2010 — Officers of the Riverside Department of Public Safety were dispatched to an apartment at 4911 NW Gateway Drive after the victim was found lying on the floor covered in blood.
• December 9, 2010 — Cavona C. Flenoy pleaded guilty to second-degree murder charges for shooting and killing Hassan A. Abbas in his Riverside apartment on March 9.
• January 21, 2011 — Judge Owens Lee Hull, Jr. sentenced Flenoy to 25 years in prison for second degree murder, 20 years in prison for armed criminal action, and five years in prison each for tampering with a motor vehicle and stealing; the sentences ran concurrently.

The offence

Flenoy admitted she shot Hassan A. Abbas several times in the chest, face, and side with a gun she had purchased for $100 one day after meeting the victim and three days before the murder. Zahnd stated: “This defendant bought a gun the day after she met her victim. Three days later, she took that gun to his apartment, murdered him, and stole his wallet and car. It is appropriate that she will spend more than two decades behind bars for her crimes.”

During sentencing, Zahnd noted that Flenoy scribbled a note on a legal pad during a break in her interview with police. The note stated: “I push him down like I was about to [have sex with] him. I got the gun. And I just pulled the trigger.”

Flenoy admitted leaving the apartment in the victim’s car with his keys, wallet, and cell phone. After fleeing, Flenoy switched license plates from her car to the victim’s. She also attempted to purchase gas using the victim’s credit card.

Investigation

On March 9, 2010 shortly before 7:30 p.m., officers were dispatched to an apartment at 4911 NW Gateway Drive after a roommate said the victim was lying on the floor covered in blood. Abbas was transported to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Officers recovered spent .40 caliber shell casings and spent bullet rounds from Abbas’ bedroom and found blood on Abbas’ bed, wall and floor.

The case was investigated by the Riverside Department of Public Safety with the assistance of the Kansas City Metro Squad.

Arrest

No arrest details were provided in the source text.

Trial

She also pleaded guilty to armed criminal action, stealing a motor vehicle, and stealing a credit card.

Zahnd made additional statements in connection with the guilty plea: “This defendant repeatedly shot her victim in the chest with a gun she had bought three days earlier,” Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd said in a statement. “She murdered him and then stole his wallet and his car. She might look like a harmless 19-year-old girl, but the truth is that she is a very dangerous woman.”

Sentencing

Sentencing hearing

During the sentencing, Zahnd sought life in prison for Flenoy, arguing that the evidence suggested Flenoy misled the victim into believing she would have sex with him before she killed him.

Flenoy’s criminal defense attorney argued that Flenoy’s difficult upbringing warranted a three-year prison term followed by probation. The defense presented evidence that Flenoy had been raped and abused as a child, which a psychologist argued could have influenced the crime.

Judge Owens Lee Hull, Jr. sentenced Flenoy to:

• 25 years in prison for second degree murder,
• 20 years in prison for armed criminal action,
• five years in prison each for tampering with a motor vehicle and stealing.

Hull ordered the sentences to run concurrently. Flenoy had to serve 85% of her sentence before she would be eligible for parole.

Flenoy became visibly upset as Hull pronounced the sentence, sobbing and making verbal outbursts through the remainder of the hearing.

Zahnd said: “There is no doubt this young woman had a tumultuous childhood. But that cannot excuse an act of cold-blooded murder.”

Appeals

No appeal details were provided in the source text.

Outcome

Flenoy was sentenced to 25 years in prison on January 21, 2011. The sentencing included concurrent terms for second degree murder, armed criminal action, tampering with a motor vehicle, and stealing, with parole eligibility after serving 85% of the sentence.

Other details

• The apartment was described as the Riverside apartment at 4911 NW Gateway Drive and as located in the El Chaparral apartment complex at 4911 Northwest Gateway Drive.
• Hassan A. Abbas was described as a 32-year-old Sudanese national.
• Abbas’ roommate found Abbas lying in a pool of blood in the apartment.
• Flenoy stole Abbas’ 1995 blue Honda Accord, wallet, and cell phone.
• Flenoy switched out the victim’s license plates and tried to buy gas with the victim’s credit card.
• The sentencing was described as scheduled for January 20, 2011 in connection with the guilty plea reporting.
• The prosecution was personally handled by Eric Zahnd and Assistant Prosecutor Amy Ashelford.