Kevin Darnell Ray
In a recent posting we discussed the ongoing quest to uncover organic causes of antisocial and criminal behavior. The hope has always been that if we could pinpoint something physical – anatomical and electrochemical – we could alter that behavior. Short of that, the logic goes, we would understand enough to say why and from where this behavior was originating, and therefore understand that the offender was motivated to commit his crime not by free will but biological determinism.
Well, every indicator is that we’re a long way off from that scientific nirvana, so far that it isn’t even relevant to our decision-making process in the criminal justice system or our views on rehabilitation.
Case in point: Kevin Darnell Ray.
Kevin Darnell Ray of Fort Washington, Maryland, is 34 years of age. At age 16, he killed a man, but only served a few years in prison. Since that original crime, he has been convicted of first degree burglary, first degree sexual assault, third degree sexual assault, three counts of first degree simple assault, three counts of false imprisonment and three counts of use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. For whatever reason, he got out of prison shortly after each conviction and went immediately back to violent crime. What is wrong with this picture?
His specialty is violent home invasions.
On April 14, he was found guilty of forcing his way into a home in Bethesda, Maryland, tearing off the clothes of a housekeeper and sexually assaulting her at gunpoint while wearing a ski mask. He then terrorized the female resident of the house and forced her 14-year-old son to tie her up.
DNA analysis tied him to the crime scene and video surveillance showed him using one of the victim’s stolen debit cards to get money from an ATM machine.
At the time of the trial, prosecutors Peter Feeney and Eric Nee wrote that there are charges pending against Ray in Montgomery and Prince George’s County, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., that include armed carjacking, rape, assault and armed bank robbery.
Yesterday, Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge David A. Boynton sentenced him to the maximum – life plus 220 years – and arranged each count consecutively to be as sure as was possible that Mr. Ray will die in prison. He called Ray “a citizen’s worst nightmare. He’s the monster lurking in the darkness.”
It was clear to the judge that there is no way – scientifically, psychologically, behaviorally – to keep this man from doing violence. For whatever “reason” he keeps committing his crimes, rehabilitation is not even a theoretical option.
So forget rehabilitation. Forget punishment. Neither one of them will do any good. The only reasonable course for Kevin Ray and the others like him is warehousing. And bravo to Judge Boynton for realizing that. He seems to understand more about criminal behavior than a whole slew of scientists.
Interesting Mr. Douglas, the sister asked for evidence they had, I am curious to but I assume DNA is going to back up the surveillance video.
I will email you what I proposed to the NIJ on this subject, please read it. I just do not want the public to because we can not let these types become forensically aware. He was just getting started and killing would be next because it is all about stealing the victims power, and this is why they relive these crimes through trophies. It is psychologically stimulating for them to control others because like a drug the effects wear off when the crime is committed. By having a tangible object like a bone or a ring they can reconnect to the victim and to the energy and power they took when they controlled her. It is a complex topic and like your fellow agent said “profiling is an art it is not a science.” Now we can use science to make profiling so strong of a tool that one day these rapist will be under surveillance or prison. However it take a lot of work as you and I well know.
I want all of these rapist and sexual predators off our streets, and I am going to do it Mr. Douglas. Our women and children are to precious and I am single and have no children, but you do and others do also. They are my sisters and my family in my mind and it is my responsibility to work tirelessly to protect them. And that is the difference John Douglas, you and I are very much alike. They are similar to us only because we have to catch them, they do not have these emotions of a sacred woman, innocence and they do not see what I do. I see a woman who this man attacked crying and being abused by someone she never crossed and in her own home. I will be honest it makes me want to step out of the integrity I hold true to and kill them all for hurting innocence. They have been able to get free to long John, no more not if I can hit the FBI as an agent. I will make sure sentences are carried out, killers tracked and sexual offenders comply, if they do not I would U.S. Marshals and then they assist. But its time stop these crimes, for whatever need drives them is of no concern to me. My concern is women being safe, secure and happy.
My prose are not very good but it is emotional for me to think of these acts and a helpless woman who had her life ruined because these men need to feel important! They but now they are to me and for them that is not going to be a good thing when I get to my post.
Your an awesome writer but I am not. I see you ask some interesting questions in Law and Disorder, the email will tell you my analysis. Please consider it carefully and respond to me, because your thoughts matter a great deal to me.