Lucas gets life in prison for death of daughter, 2
Defendant and families speak during emotional hearing over plea deal.
WEST PALM BEACH — In the car on her way to the Palm Beach County Courthouse on Tuesday, Jacquelyn Jamason clutched her baby girl Elliana’s favorite stuffed animal — a soft gray, orange-eyed bunny named Sofia — and listened to every word of the chorus from Christian pop artist Hannah Kerr’s song, “Warrior.”
With tears streaming down her cheeks and the arm of her 13-year-old son, Ethan, around her a short time later, Jamason repeated the words for Circuit Judge Charles Burton. As he listened, the judge glanced over at Kimberly Lucas, Jamason’s former partner of 21 years and the woman who Tuesday accepted a sentence of life in prison to escape a possible death penalty for drowning 2-year-old Elliana Jamason in a bathtub and trying to poison Ethan to death.
Lucas, 43, told Burton she had no memory of killing the child she and Jamason shared but still wanted to take the plea deal for the life sentence plus an additional 30 years. Had her case gone to trial, her attorneys would have argued that she was legally insane on May 26, 2014, and that
Other recent Palm Beach County murder cases that started as death-penalty cases and ended with sentences of life in prison:
Paul Michael Merhige, pleaded guilty and accepted seven life sentences as part of a plea agreement for killing four of his relatives and injuring three others in a shooting rampage at the end of a Thanksgiving 2009 family gathering.
Neal Jacobson, pleaded guilty and sentenced to three life sentences as part of a plea agreement for shooting his wife and twin 7-year-old sons to death in January 2010.
Bruce Strachan, sentenced to life in prison after a jury that convicted him in the murders of his estranged wife and two of her friends took just 30 minutes of additional deliberation to decide he should serve life in prison instead of getting a death sentence.
Clem Beauchamp, pleaded guilty and accepted three life sentences as part of a plea agreement for the murders nine months apart, first of his girlfriend and then of her son and daughter, 10 and 6.
Rodney Clark, sentenced to life in prison after a jury earlier this month quickly decided by a 9-3 vote against giving him the death penalty for the 1987 murder of Dana Fader. one of her alternate personalities carried out the acts.
The plea agreement, however, ended Lucas’ case in the same way that most high-profile death penalty cases have ended over the past several years in Palm Beach County. And it prevented the agony of a potential trial for Jamason, who after an emotional sentencing hearing said she had been against a potential death sentence for Lucas.
“When you bring a child into the world, you never think you have to say goodbye to them as well,” Jamason told Burton, recounting the last moments she had with the toddler in a hospital, with tubes attached to her nose and mouth. “She was so quiet and so beautiful. I told her that Mommy loved her forever and ever and I was so sorry.”
Several feet away, Lucas sobbed audibly. In a rambling confession letter authorities discovered after the killing, Lucas blamed her actions on Jamason, who gave birth to Ethan and Elliana. Lucas also quoted parts of a ser- mon she’d heard the previous day on what was the last time she attended Metropolitan Community Church.
Lucas’ interpretation of the message and harsh words she had for congregants she listed by name deepened the pain of congregants who changed his life forever, he remembered Elliana on Tuesrefused to let it define him. day as “a little girl with an “Don’t call me a victim,” old soul.” Ethan said.
The wounds ran deep even As part of the agreement, three years after the girl’s Lucas had to agree never to death, the Rev. Lea Brown have any contact with Ethan told Burton on Tuesday. again, which several times Brown, who was the pas- became a point of tension tor who delivered the ser- in the sentencing hearing. mon mentioned by Lucas Skiles and Assistant State that centered on the bibli- Attorney Jill Richstone stayed cal story of Isaac and Abrasilent as Lucas’ mother ham, said she has long since expressed how much she forgiven Lucas but was glad missed Ethan and described the case was over. how she desperately tried
“Killing her would not have to get her daughter help for brought Elliana back,” Brown what defense attorneys say said, although she said she was an eventual diagnosis will never understand why of dissociative identity disLucas killed the girl. order. But when Lucas’ sis
Sandra McManus, another ter, Stacey, expressed sevchurch member, spoke on eral times that she wanted to Lucas’ behalf, calling her reconnect with Ethan and be “the daughter I never had.” a part of his life, Skiles raised
Though few in the packed her eyebrows and appeared courtroom left Tuesday with- about to interject when Bur- out shedding tears, most ton stepped in. agreed the heaviest weight He apologetically fell on the shoulders of Elli- explained that the no-con- ana’s brother, Ethan Jama- tact order with Lucas her- son. Assistant State Attorney self made such statements Terri Skiles said Ethan was awkward at that moment. just 10 when he dragged his “Plus, all of this ... this is a baby sister out of the tub, lot for him right now,” Bur- tried in vain to revive her ton said. and still managed to call 911 When it was h er time while clinging to life him- to speak, Lucas tearfully self after Lucas convinced addressed Ethan directly him to swallow alprazolam and professed her love for pills by telling him the doc- him. The words appeared tor said the pills would make to hit him hard. He hung his him grow. head, blond-tipped waves of
Ethan stood in front of hair covering his face, and Burton on Tuesday and said clutched his uncle’s hand. he still remembered what it Burton again intervened, was like to hug his baby sisand stopped Lucas a secter and make her laugh. He ond time after she tried to referred to Lucas by her first recount memories of cheer- name and said she “used to ing the boy on at soccer be my mom.” games.
Already an accomplished Palm Beach County Public ballet dancer at 13, he wanted Defender Carey Haughwout, Burton to know that although who personally stepped his last day with Lucas in to handle Lucas’ case
and shuffled through
the