LANCASTER – A 24-year-old man was sentenced Thursday to death for murdering a woman and her three young daughters and then setting their Lancaster home on fire.
Superior Court Judge Lisa Chung denied an automatic motion to reduce the jury’s recommendation of the death penalty for Corey Lynn King.
A jury recommended the death penalty for King on Dec. 30, 2014, after finding him guilty Nov. 25 of four counts of first-degree murder for the 2008 killings of Sonya Harris and her daughters, Ebony Horton, Melinda Harris and Kayla Clark.
Jurors found true the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and torture, and also convicted him of arson of an inhabited structure and grand theft auto.
King smiled throughout the sentencing hearing Thursday, even as the victims’ family members spoke about their pain and loss
Enisha Clark said her entire reality had shifted since losing her mother and sisters all on one day. “It’s my personal holocaust; that’s how I think of it,” she said.
Casondra Clark had harsh words for King, calling him a “baby killer” who had ruined her life. “You took away my whole f-cking family, you bastard!” Casondra Clark told King.
The bodies of 43-year-old Sonya Harris, 13-year-old Ebony, 11-year-old Melinda and 9-year-old Kayla were discovered in their Avenue J-3 home by firefighters on Sept. 9, 2008.
King had poured gasoline over the victims and throughout the house and then set the bodies and home on fire, according to Assistant Head Deputy Robert Sherwood.
Before setting the fire, King stabbed Sonya Harris and Ebony more than 50 times; he stabbed, beat and stomped Melinda to death; and he strangled Kayla, according to evidence presented at trial.
The prosecutor said an argument might have been the motive for Sonya Harris’ murder and that her three daughters were killed because they were witnesses to their mother’s slaying.
King surrendered shortly after midnight the day after the bodies were found inside the burning home.
“In my 18 years as a prosecutor, it’s one of the worst cases I’ve ever seen,” Sherwood said Thursday.
–
Previous related stories:
Jury recommends death for man found guilty in 2008 quadruple murders
Man guilty in 2008 murders of Lancaster woman and three young daughters
Lancaster quadruple murder trial underway
Chad says
“sentenced Thursday to death”
Ah good another waste of air is being taken off this planet.
Bill says
Ah good, another waste of air to be taken off the face of the planet.
Mike C says
Burn baby burn. May your soul burn in hell. Hopefully someone on death row will kill this sorry piece of sh_t when he gets there.
Jeremy says
It’s people like this that keeps me pro-capital punishment. Sick monsters like this do not deserve to continue living. I don’t care what anyone else thinks, I would want to watch this man get tortured.
Street Justice says
Life for a Life, [removed] this scum he deserves to get [removed] killed.
shaybone blizzard says
An eye for an eye an tooth for a tooth. Kill by the sword and die by the sword. Lord have no mercy on his soul.rot 4life!!!
Saints says
This is the kind of psycho that should be executed tomorrow why wait 20-30 years he’s not getting out ever why feed him house him keep him around for what he will kill again no remorse for the devastation he caused that family…my vote DEATH NOW
p says
So sorry to hear this well hope he gets what god judges him goodnight love the kids
Scott says
He can keep smiling as he’s executed. What a complete fool he must be.
jj says
He looks like one.
Felcia says
You deserve everything you got! God don’t like ugly.
All Glory to God! Thank You God! These little 3 girls were soo sweet and innocent smh
I knew the whole fam and may they all RIP!!!!
meghan says
[removed] needs to be hung. God bless that family and those children’s souls.
Anonymous. says
I went too school with one of the kids, everyone at the school was devastated when they heard about this.
Glad he’s in there forever.
Caash says
BURN IN HELL!!!! I WANNA SEND MY CONDOLENCE&&LOVE OUT TO THE FAMILY, I PERSONALLY KNEW THEM. THEU LIVED 5 HOUSES DOWN FROM ME AND MELINDA && KAYLA STAYED COMIN TO MY HOUSE. THEY WHERE SO SWEET
Mel says
I hope you rot in hell you sick son of a [removed]! How dare you take the lives of these four innocent human beings? Three of them being little girls who haven’t begun to live their lives. You’re a piece of [removed]! Thank God you’re going To hell!
theresa says
I am so glad you got what was coming to you!!
You took Our Cousins from us !!
breezy says
That is just the sickest [removed]a person can do to someone among all other sick [removed] he will have to answer to a higher power ‘GOD’ ..