“Kalup Allen Born, Admitted Killer of Brenda Carter, Scheduled for Sentencing in February”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Kalup Allen Born, a 25-year-old convicted killer, is set to be sentenced in February for the murder of Ada resident Brenda Carter. Born pleaded guilty to the crime in December 2022 and is likely facing a sentence of 30 to 45 years in federal prison. This sentence may run consecutively to another sentence he will receive for a separate killing.

Born also killed 42-year-old Billy Joe Johnson in December 2020 while both were incarcerated in the Pontotoc County Justice Center. He is facing up to 15 years in prison for that case after a federal jury found him guilty of manslaughter. Sentencing for both cases is scheduled for February 15th at the federal courthouse in Muskogee.

The sentence for the murder of Brenda Carter, according to a plea agreement, will begin once Born serves time for the manslaughter conviction. In a plea agreement with the United States government, Born’s most serious charge for killing Carter was reduced in late November 2022. The charge of “murder in perpetration of robbery and kidnapping in Indian Country” was changed to “murder in Indian Country – second degree.” Born also pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary, kidnapping, and arson in Indian Country.

On the charges of murder and kidnapping, Born faces up to life in prison, and up to 20 years on each of the lesser charges. However, the recommended sentencing range per the plea agreement is 360 to 540 months (30-45 years) in prison. The court will have the final decision on whether Born’s sentences will run concurrently or consecutively, and is not bound by the recommendation.

Born remains in federal custody pending his sentencing for both cases. He was originally charged by the state in the Brenda Carter case, but those charges were dismissed due to the “McGirt v. Oklahoma” ruling by the United States Supreme Court in 2020, as Born is an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation. He was later charged in federal court.

In the plea agreement, Born detailed the events leading up to Brenda Carter’s murder. He admitted to kidnapping, abducting, and killing her with malice aforethought. Born broke into Carter’s residence, kidnapped her at knifepoint, threatened her life, and forced her to drive with him against her will. After crashing the vehicle into a ravine, Born kicked Carter out of the vehicle and left her injured and in need of help. Carter later died from the injuries caused by the crash and kidnapping.

Born also confessed to breaking into another residence and starting a fire after he couldn’t find car keys to steal a vehicle. Two occupants of the residence were able to escape unharmed.

On the day of the kidnapping, emergency officials responded to a house fire near Fittstown. A passerby saw Born walking near the fire, and authorities quickly located and detained him. Carter was found in a ravine, injured and in pain. She was taken to the hospital but later died from her injuries.

In December 2020, Born killed fellow inmate Billy Joe Johnson while they were both incarcerated. Born was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in Indian Country for that case. Video footage showed Born assaulting Johnson, stomping on his head multiple times. Johnson succumbed to his injuries a few days later.

The sentencing for Born’s crimes will be determined by the court in February..