The Jackson County District Attorney’s office announced that Kevin Dean Hicks Sr. was sentenced yesterday after being found guilty by a jury of Murder in the Second Degree, Arson in the First Degree and Abuse of a Corpse in the Second Degree.
The Honorable Judge Timothy Barnack sentenced Mr. Hicks to the following: On Murder in the Second Degree: life in prison with the possibility of parole after twenty-five years (25); Arson in the First Degree: thirty-six months (36) in the Oregon Department of Corrections to be served consecutively; and Abuse of a Corpse in the Second Degree: 20 days in the Jackson County jail.
Additionally, Mr. Hicks will be subject to lifetime post- prison supervision if he is ever released.
Mr. Hicks was convicted for his role in the murder of his estranged wife, Tammy Hicks. The two had been living apart due to a prior domestic violence incident in October of 2017 wherein Mr. Hicks was convicted of Felony Assault in the Fourth Degree against Ms. Hicks.
On June 30, 2018, Ms. Hicks went to discuss an ongoing tax issue with the defendant. While at their RV (located in Central Point) the Defendant strangled her to death and then lit the RV on fire, abusing her corpse in the process. The fire quickly spread to adjacent trailers, sheds, and land before being knocked down and put out by local fire personnel.
Two of the victim’s surviving children and her adult brother spoke at sentencing. Both children discussed how the murder of their mother has impacted them on a daily basis. The children told the Court that Tammy was a devoted mother who went out of her way to show the kids she loved them on a daily basis. “She gave the best hugs in the world…She would have done anything for us. She lost her life to free us from (Defendant’s) grasp.”
Following the request of the family and prosecutors, Judge Barnack ran Mr. Hick’s sentences consecutive to one another. Mr. Hicks was indicted by a Jackson County Grand Jury on July 5, 2018. He has remained lodged in the Jackson County jail since June 30, 2018.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys Zori Cook and Ben Lull.
Source: JCDAO
