Law&Crime Sidebar - Triple Murder Suspect Faces Trial with ‘Stun Cuff’ Penalty After Court Outbursts

Episode Date: December 12, 2023

Brice Rhodes, who some call an "obscure rapper," faces trial for allegedly killing three people in Louisville, Kentucky in 2016. Two of those victims were teenagers who allegedly witnessed Rhodes shoot the first victim. In pre-trial hearings, Rhodes has often sparred with court officials, even accusing one judge of being a member of the KKK. The Law&Crime Network’s Jesse Weber breaks down everything we know so far about Brice Rhodes and what we could expect during his trial.SPONSOR:Save 10% on your entire POM Pepper Spray order by using code LAWCRIME10% at https://bit.ly/POM-SIDEBARHOST:Jesse Weber: https://twitter.com/jessecordweberLAW&CRIME SIDEBAR PRODUCTION:YouTube Management - Bobby SzokePodcasting - Sam GoldbergVideo Editing - Michael DeiningerScript Writing & Producing - Savannah WilliamsonGuest Booking - Alyssa Fisher & Diane KayeSocial Media Management - Vanessa BeinSTAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LAW&CRIME NETWORK:Watch Law&Crime Network on YouTubeTV: https://bit.ly/3td2e3yWhere To Watch Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3akxLK5Sign Up For Law&Crime's Daily Newsletter: https://bit.ly/LawandCrimeNewsletterRead Fascinating Articles From Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3td2IqoLAW&CRIME NETWORK SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawandcrime/Twitter: https://twitter.com/LawCrimeNetworkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawandcrimeTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/lawandcrimenetworkTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lawandcrimeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wondery Plus subscribers can binge all episodes of this Law and Crimes series ad-free right now. Join Wondry Plus in the Wondery app Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Agent Nate Russo returns in Oracle 3, Murder at the Grandview, the latest installment of the gripping Audible Original series. When a reunion at an abandoned island hotel turns deadly, Russo must untangle accident from murder. But beware, something sinister lurks in the grand. View Shadows. Joshua Jackson delivers a bone-chilling performance in this supernatural thriller that

will keep you on the edge of your seat. Don't let your fears take hold of you as you dive into this addictive series. Love thrillers with a paranormal twist? The entire Oracle trilogy is available on Audible. Listen now on Audible. You're not trying to give me up for a chance, effective counsel. Well, who do you think I should give you as a lawyer? I write the bar social and a ACLU. From threatening a judge to calling another a racist to allegedly spitting on his former attorney, there is a lot to break down in the case of accused triple murderer Bryce Rhodes. And with his trial about to begin, we got you covered on what you need to know. Welcome to Sidebar, presented by Law and Crime.

I'm Jesse Weber. We have quite the trial about to begin in Louisville, Kentucky. And as you know what we do here on Sidebar, when we have a major case, case, we always want to do a deep dive, a further analysis as to everything that you need to know going into this trial. This time, it is the case of Bryce Rambo Rhodes, man accused of murdering three people. So what do we know about him? Well, reporting indicates that Rhodes was a local rapper.

He was featured in rap videos with references to drug dealing and lyrics like, if Leap, play with me, I'm going to leave his bleep missing. Rhodes, who back in 2016, that's the key year in question, was on probation, apparently had a history of domestic assaults. Wave3.com also reported that Rhodes is a convicted sex offender in Indiana for confinement of someone under the age of 18. But on May 4th, 2016, he is accused of jumping out of a car and shooting to death 40-year-old Christopher Jones on the street.

According to then 15-year-old Anne Juan Carter, who was in the car when this happened, Rhodes mistakenly thought that there was a price on Jones's head, meaning that he thought Jones was a target of a contract killing. Authorities also say that there were two other witnesses to this shooting, two witnesses who were in the car when this happened. And they were brothers Larry Ordway, who was a 14-year-old honor roll student, and his brother's 16-year-old Maurice scored him. These brothers had hung out with Rhodes.

They reportedly looked up to him. Rhodes had bought things for them, too. They were even in one of his music videos. But you fast forward then to May 22nd, and their bodies were found in a backyard of an abandoned house. They had been beaten, stabbed, and their bodies burned. Medical examiner determined that Maurice had been stabbed more than a dozen times, and Larry more than 20. Just horrific killings.

Back to Mr. Carter, he allegedly told police about everything that went down. According to him, after an altercation at Rhodes's home with the brothers, Rhodes tied them up and stabbed them. And also Carter said he and another co-defendant, then 17-year-old Jacori Lamont Taylor, were forced to participate in the killings. So in other words, according to prosecutors, Rhodes murdered Maurice and Larry because they were witnesses to Jones's murder and he was maybe afraid they would talk. Hey there, everybody. I want to talk to you right now about Palm, which is the next generation. of pepper spray. You see, Palm's formula provides you with the necessary range and capacity that can give you and your loved ones some peace of mind. Now, if you're like, look, I don't want to mistakenly fire this. Well, here's the thing. Palm's patented flip top safety, it prevents

accidental misfires. So whether you're carrying the unit on your keys or key chain or snapping the unit on your backpack or even just carrying it in your pocket, Palm is really the perfect everyday carry accessory. And I'll tell you what, my wife carries Palm and absolutely Loves it. You can learn more at palmpeperspray.com and use code law crime 10% for 10% off. Carter also reportedly told law enforcement that, quote, Maurice was crying and stuff and he was asking everybody to spare him. According to Carter, Rhodes allegedly stuffed a rag into Maurice's mouth, put a ski mask on his head, and then stabbed him repeatedly, and Larry was brought out. He had been put in a bathroom. He too was gagged and had his face covered, and that he was

bludgeon to death. After the boys were killed, Carter says they put them in crates, threw them in that backyard, and set fire to their corpses. Ian Taylor then cleaned up the crime scene at the house. By the way, it didn't really help because police reportedly found blood in the home, as well as in Rhodes's car. There's also allegedly an eyewitness who may have seen someone matching Rhodes's description at a dumpster that was set on fire. They were all arrested, all these people, as well as a fourth co-defendant, 19-year-old Kieran Coleman. But in the end, Coleman, Carter, and Taylor each pled guilty. Now, the reporting indicates that Carter was granted probation in 2019

with the condition that if he violates his probation, he's going to be sent to prison for 20 years. Turns out that's what he was accused of doing in 2021. Now reportedly, he's in custody out in Florida after getting into some trouble and he won't be released until 2024. Taylor and Coleman pled guilty to a series of charges. and were each sentenced to 10 years in prison, and of course, we're going to see who would be called as prosecution witnesses against Rhodes at his trial. But for Rhodes, he's facing three

counts of murder and faces the possibility of life in prison. Now, the reason the death penalty is not on the table is because the current judge overseeing the case found Rhodes is, quote, intellectually disabled and suffers from a serious mental illness. The judge saying, quote, the court cannot allow such a person to be subjected to the death penalty, regardless of public clamor. We're going to get into that mental health in a little bit. But for Rhodes, he has pled not guilty. He says that he is innocent.

He has said in court that officers framed him and engaged in misconduct. I would like to state for the record of the facts concerning the search of my home, 763 North Heights Avenue, apartment to Louisville, K.Y. I wish to do so on record because previously on multiple occasions the Commonwealth has went back and try to cover up and clean up their corruption and misconduct involving evidence. I wish to do so so they can't go back and change anything. The prosecution is known for falsifying and altering documents about evidence. On May 24th, 2016, an informant suspect, Ann Juan Carter, was detained in question. So he told detectives that allegedly a double homicide took place in my home,

763 North Heights Avenue, apartment 2, boule of K.Y. So detectives called for a search warrant and searched my home at 21, 18 hours into 22, 11 hours. Okay, so during this search was five homicide officers and one CSU officer. They searched for hours. They applied blue star chemical solution all throughout the house. They looked and looked and they found no such evidence of any type of crime. In fact, officers stated how clean the apartment was. They also stated that the carpet had cleaning solution on it,

and yet nothing was still found when they applied blue star chemical reaction. So they cleared the scene and they leave for one hour and 20 minutes. They leave for one hour and 20 minutes. They come back and they research the home at 2356 until 0.214 hours. Now all of a sudden they claim to find blood on the carpet. So the same carpet they just searched the first time that was clean and now it allegedly has blood on it. See, to sum everything up, detectives were told numerous lies in fabrications by the informant and they were led on a wild goose chase by someone who made up a story who just thought just so they can get out of jail.

Now, we can't talk about the Bryce Rhodes case without talking about what has been happening in court. Let's start with when Rhodes was represented by attorney Brendan McLeod. So McLeod had to recuse himself when he learned that Larry and Maurice were actually the grandchildren of his close friend. That's a conflict of interest, right? Well, according to McLeod, when he told Rhodes the news that he no long. would represent him, Roads didn't take it too well. No, he allegedly spit on McLeod. Well, then, later on in court, McLeod, when he made the move to officially remove himself from the case, he suggested to the judge that he be kept away from Rhodes saying otherwise, we're going

to scrap. McLeod even had a verbal exchange with Rhodes in court. Nice cheap shot. You're a coward. Nice cheap. You're a coward. Yeah, McLeod says, nice cheap shot. Roads says you're a cat. and I'll see you when I get out. By the way, before he left court, he also asked the judge something. Hey, Judge, what's my bond? At the time, it was reportedly $2 million. Now it's at $1 million.

But focusing on Rhodes and judges for a second, though, we saw so much more. And even before I get into this next court appearance, I got to give you a little bit of more context. So aside from the alleged spitting incident with his former attorney, Rhodes also allegedly spit on an inmate and then also. allegedly beat up an inmate and according to an arrest warrant threatened to quote kill him like he did the others this inmate reportedly suffered injuries to his forehead and neck so with all that going on during another hearing

court deputies wheeled Rhodes in strapping his wrists and ankles to a chair and fitting him with a spit mask and once again he wasn't too happy mr. Rhodes you can just you can just bring him up right here I think you know why you know exactly why now listen stop talking um you have been are you done you've been charged with assault in the fourth degree I'm gonna keep talking because I don't want to have to see you back here for this what you think the motherfucker can't find out where you live at what you think at bitch I don't give a fuck about none of that I ain't do shit so you're saying you're gonna find out

where I live at. I don't give a fuck about none of that. You got to say I'll be up. Okay. You've been charged with assault in the fourth degree, minor injury, terroristic threatening in the third degree, and harassment with physical contact. These are new charges.

I'm entering a plea of not guilty on your behalf. Would you like me to read the arrest warrant to you? No, I'm not guilty. I am setting a bond of 15,000 full cash on that, on those charges. Do you have any questions? Would you like appointment of a public defender? I just said that.

Not guilty. I just said that. I'd be up. Okay. I just said that. And would you like an attorney? I'm not taking you anywhere. They can take you back, but would you like an attorney?

Okay. I'm going to appoint the public defender's office. Ms. Schroaring, that was a threat against the court. I think that I'm asking the county attorney's office to take that into account and consider what to do with that. hear that? Did you hear what he said? What he said to Judge Amber Wolfe was, quote, what? You don't think that we can't find out where you live at? I don't give a bleep. You got family. I'll be out. Well, that got him hit with additional charges of terroristic threatening and intimidating a participant in the legal process. Speaking of which, the case

then moved over to a different judge. It moved over to the courtroom of the Honorable Judge Charles Cunningham. And during one pretrial hearing, Rhodes was arguing that he was framed by detectives, and he was asking to be represented by a different attorney. In fact, he claimed that his attorney, Thomas Griffiths, made racist comments directed to him. And that led to this back and forth between Rhodes and Judge Cunningham. Your job is to do your job, not to worry about me. That's what I'm saying. I worry about me.

You worry about your shit himself. You're not trying to give me a fair chance, effective counsel. Well, who do you think I should give you as a lawyer? I'll write the bar association and the ACLU. I'm going to find out, though. We're going to find out real quick. I promise it. Honestly, that's not even the worst that we heard because at one point, Roads accused Cunningham

of having a sexual relationship with the prosecutor and he of also being a racist. And it's my right to speak what I need to speak on. I don't know if I got some type of sexual relationship going on or which I got going on, But I'm definitely gonna speak my man. Detective Detellie and I have no sexual relationship. Now I'm talking about you and a prosecutor over us, sir. You deny out of my motions.

Every motion I've denied, you didn't deny it. I'm pretty sure I've denied the best. Every motion I've found. Are you some type of racist? Are you got some type of sexual relationship going on? Which one is it? Or are you just wrong in everything that you can pay motion for? Are you a secret Ku Klux Klan member?

No, sir, I know. Is that what you really are? No. Okay. But like I said, the higher courts, they'll deal with it when time comes necessary. Yeah, that was a new one. Okay, that was a new one for me. At one point, I have to tell you that Debbie Wren, who is the grandmother of Larry and Maurice,

the two brothers who were killed, she stood up in court and said to the court, it's going on four years for him to stay. I'm their grandma. And this is going on for four years. Do you think he should be executed? Yes. The judge Cunningham warned her that the process in this, case is very important, so there's not a reversible error, meaning that if Rhodes is convicted,

an appeals court would reverse the decision citing Rhodes' rights were violated in some way. So that's why you have to go through all of these hearings and all this process to make sure everything is done correctly. Maybe not surprisingly, though, this case would end up being assigned to a different judge. All right, as we talk more about accused triple murder defendant Bryce Rhodes in his upcoming trial. I do want to get a little bit more into other reported problems he got into while in jail. So he's accused of throwing cleaning supplies, ripping an inmate observation document, threatening to kill an officer, attempting to break a glass window, throwing urine on an officer,

and trying to escape jail. Yeah, that one was interesting. He allegedly tried to dig a hole in his cell with some sort of sharpened metal instrument. He also apparently flushed the tool down the toilet before officers could confiscate it. That was the allegation. He was hit with felony charges of mischief, escape, and tampering with evidence, and for allegedly threatening an officer in jail that he and his family would die and that he would be shanked in the face, Rhodes was charged with terroristic threatening, wanton endangerment, and criminal mischief. He also allegedly sent handwritten notes to Mr. Taylor, his co-defendant, when he was housed in the same correctional facility as him. They aren't signed by Rhodes.

But prosecutors suggest that these writings show Rhodes trying to influence Taylor's testimony. Now, Taylor admitted his involvement and reportedly told police that Rhodes killed Maurice and Larry because they were witnesses to the Jones killing. But back to those documents, written across the top of a police statement transcript as well as a letter that were sent to Taylor. It says, quote, rats get exposed. Taylor said that Rhodes slipped him the letter that says, quote, show me you my expletive. And you not know rat. The letter goes on to say, quote, between us, you know what you said. I got the paperwork.

So look, here's where expletive gets real. Then the author, again, allegedly Rhodes, instructs Taylor on what to say to renounce his confession. Rhodes also allegedly wrote Taylor, quote, take no pleas. They are going to offer you something to testify on me. I know what they on. Remember, they don't have anything on you. stay focused, love you. That's a pretty big development in the case,

but talking more recently about Mr. Rhodes, there was another important issue. It was about his competency to stand trial. It's actually an issue that delayed the trial quite a bit. There was a backlog of cases at the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center, and it took more than a year for Rhodes' case to be evaluated. By the way, when we talk about competency, we're not talking about insanity.

That's something different. Competency means the ability of a criminal defense, to understand and participate in the legal proceedings? Do they understand the charges, the rights, what's going on? And I guess when you think about everything that we've just described, it's maybe not surprising. Competency is an issue here. The prosecution said he is competent. He made comments about the court process that shows that he does understand what's going

on. He understands the challenges that he faces. because of having a high publicity case. In fact, psychiatrist Dr. Timothy Allen testified during the hearing, and in his opinion, Rhodes is competent, and he knows what's going on, but it's really Rhodes's choice if he wants to actually participate in his own trial. He has runoff multiple attorneys, Judge. It does not make him a competent person because I haven't quit him. He will not speak to me.

as is in the record and hasn't for years. Yeah, Rhodes's attorney also highlighted how his client suffered from hallucinations and paranoia and thought that the prosecutor was trying to poison him, even suggested that he himself wanted to be a witness as to what he observed about Rhodes, but the judge wouldn't allow it due to attorney-client privilege issues. In the end, Judge Julie Kalin, yes, this case has now been assigned to her. She ruled that Rhodes is competent to stand trial. I don't believe that any of the evidence through testimony today is conclusive that Mr. Rhodes isn't just making the decision to not participate with his attorneys.

I don't think that that necessarily makes him incompetent. There has been no conclusive testimony that he is. competent. So while the trial is now about to start, it doesn't come without its own set of issues. You see, Judge Kalin warned Mr. Rhodes that if he makes any kind of outburst during the proceedings, he'll have a choice. Either be removed from the courtroom or be fitted with an ankle cuff that will shock him should he disturb proceedings anymore. And to be clear, he's not wearing the shock cuff now, but that could be an option for the future if there are problems. So with all that, We plan to cover the Bryce Rhodes trial for you here on Long Crime.

Seven years, almost eight, since these killings, a lot of moving parts. And as we described to you, a lot that has happened in between then and now. That's all we have for you here on Sidebar, everybody. Thank you so much for joining us. Please subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, wherever you get your podcast. I'm Jesse Weber. I'll speak to you next time. You can binge all episodes of this law and crime series

ad free right now on Wondery Plus. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.