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Kansas Man Takes Plea Deal In 2019 Slaying Of Tenant Who Bullied Him For Years
Andrew Evans pleaded guilty to killing his tenant Raymond Smith in 2019 — a man neighbors had previously testified was a “bully” who was “always ripping someone.”
A Kansas man has admitted to the fatal stabbing his tenant who is said to have bullied and terrorized him for half a decade.
Andrew Timothy Evans, 43, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the 2019 slaying of 41-year-old Raymond Smith, according to Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay, Topeka station WIBW-TV reported.
Smith was stabbed to death in the yard of Evans’ house in Topeka, Kansas on Sept. 1, 2019. Surveillance footage captured the attack, showed Evans stabbing Smith multiple times as the victim laid on the ground. Smith died as a result of the knife wounds.
Evans, who fled the crime scene on foot, was arrested the following day and ultimately charged with premeditated first-degree murder.
According to witnesses’ previous court testimony, Smith had bullied and intimidated Evans for several years prior to the killing, according to WIBW-TV. At times, Smith also allegedly brandished a knife while antagonizing Evans.
Neighbor Wilbert Osler described Smith as a “bully” who was “always ripping someone.” He said Evans’ “snapped” and fatally stabbed Smith after years of torment.
"I knew Andrew was frustrated," Osler testified in 2019, describing the night of Smith’s murder. "You never see [Evans] frustrated."
Osler testified that Smith lived at Evans’ property rent-free in exchange for construction work on the rental unit. The work, however, was never complete.
On multiple occasions, Evans had tried to evict Smith from the residence, and he accused Smith of robbing him on Sept. 1.
Osler claimed that he saw Smith lying dead on the ground outside Evans’ home after the murder — and that Evans then made a comment about disposing of Smith’s body.
"Hell, no, I'm calling 911," Osler told the court he said in reply.
Osler’s brother, Adam Taylor also testified that Evans had a “good name” in the community and had a reputation for being a “mild-mannered” and “cool guy.” (Evans has past convictions for burglary in Shawnee and Jackson counties in 2015, according to WBIW-TV.)
A spokesperson for the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office didn’t immediately respond to questions regarding the case on Thursday afternoon.
Jason Belveal, Evans’ defense counsel, also didn’t respond to messages left with his office requesting comment when contacted by Oxygen.com on Thursday afternoon.
Evans’ sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 12. He’s expected to be sentenced to approximately 23 years in prison, according to prosecutors.
