April 21, 2018 — The Orrick father accused of the murder of his two sons pleaded guilty to two of the five charges against him in Clay County Court on Friday, April 20.
Randy Garrison
Randy M. Garrison, 35, appeared with counsel in the Clay County Division 4 courtroom of Larry Dale Harman.
The court record reads: “The Court now finds that the defendant’s plea of guilty is offered freely, knowingly, and voluntarily, with a full understanding of the effect of a plea of guilty on his constitutional rights, including his right to a jury trial. I find there is a factual basis for the plea and the plea is accepted. The court finds beyond a reasonable doubt the defendant is guilty of TWO counts of the Class B felonies of Abandonment of a Child-1st Degree.”
3-year-old Roger Wayne Garrison, left, and 20-month-old Ashton Michael Garrison, right, died in a fire Dec. 10, 2013 at their home in Orrick.
Garrison was facing five charges, including arson, relating to the death of his two sons, Roger Wayne, 3, and Ashton Michael, 1, when their Orrick home went up in flames Dec. 10, 2013. Garrison’s case proceeded to a jury trial in March, which resulted in a deadlocked jury.
Also during court proceedings Friday, Garrison was granted a four-day furlough from Clay County Detention Center in order to be with a relative during a surgical procedure. Garrison will be required to post $100,000 bond, but is “released on recognizance for the furlough period.” Garrison must stay within the state of Missouri and has limited privileges during his furlough. He must report back to Clay County Sheriff when the furlough expires.
A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for June 29, 2018 at 11 a.m. to determine judgment in the two Class B felonies of first degree child abandonment Garrison has plead guilty to.
The remaining three Class A felony charges, two counts of murder in the second degree, and one count of arson in the first degree, were not addressed.