Kevin Newland Charged with Murder of Jamie Lynn Drake
Kevin Newland was charged with the murder of 19-year-old Jamie Lynn Drake. The alleged motive was robbery. Kevin Newland has allegedly admitted to strangling Jamie Lynn Drake; however, it appears she was suffocated by a bag placed over her head.
Even though Newland, 20, allegedly admitted strangling Drake to death, Spokane Medical Examiner Dr. Sally Aiken says it appears she was suffocated by a bag placed over her head.
Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich says Drake was a truly innocent casualty of crime.
(KXLY)
What an absolutely pointless murder.
I grew up with Kevin and his dad is a big part of my family. It breaks my heart that he would do this. I can not understand how such a beautiful little boy who loved so much could turn into a murderer? We are all so confused. I blame his mom. He was such a good boy until she came into his life. He grew up on a farm. He was a total down-home boy next door. She came into his life when he was around 11 years old. He was around 15 when she introduced him to drugs and alcohol. She used to make him steal cars for her. She warped him. He is an adult now and completely responsible for his actions though. I am sorry he couldn’t turn his life around. How could he let it get to this point. How could he break his dad’s heart and soul like this?
Comment by Erin | March 7, 2007
I am an ex_girlfriend of Kevins and he was also a large part of my family. It hurts to know something like this had happen to such a happy and honest man. Kevin had called me the night befor the “murder” had happened and wanted to talk to me about something. Him and i at this point had only been friends and i was with my current boyfriend and chose not to talk to him that evening i told him i would call him the next afternoon and he did not answer my phone call i didnt hear another word about him until i saw him on the news one night and he had been arrested for theft on Jamie’s car. I know kevin and do believe this act of insanity to be only a reflection of his childhood raising (by his mother Nancy) and the loss of parental guidence after moving in with his mother. I love this man and wish that others could see the other side of him and the fact that yes he must have had somesort of a breakdown but other in my eyes he could NEVER hurt somebody in any other case he use to baby sit my kid sisters and adores his little sister and his neices there has to be more to this story I cant imagine my friend of nearly 7-8 years to do something so horrible.
Comment by Hannah | April 12, 2007