Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis's office successfully secured a life sentence for Ocastor Shavon Ferguson, a 35-year-old Jamaican national, for the murder of his girlfriend, Kayla Kelley.
The case unfolded on January 12, 2023, when a burned car was discovered by the Frisco Police Department in an unincorporated area of Collin County. Sergeant Jay Reim of the Collin County Sheriff's Office and Texas Ranger Thomas FitzPatrick responded to the scene. The car was identified as belonging to Kayla Kelley, a McKinney woman who had recently gone missing. Kelley's family and friends pointed to "Kevin Brown," later revealed as Ferguson, as her boyfriend.
Investigations revealed Ferguson's use of the alias "Kevin Brown" for extramarital relationships. Cell phone records showed communication between Ferguson and Kelley on the night she disappeared, wherein Kelley informed Ferguson's other partners about his relationship status. Subsequent forensic examinations tied Ferguson to the crime scene and incriminating actions, including the purchase of a gas can and a lighter, as well as text messages sent from Kelley's phone after her death.
Kelley's body was later discovered in a shallow grave near Ferguson's home, with the cause of death confirmed as asphyxiation by Dr. Stacey Murthy of the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office.
During the trial, Ferguson claimed he was kidnapped by three men on the day Kelley disappeared and denied any involvement in her murder. However, the jury found him guilty of murder and sentenced him to life in prison.
District Attorney Greg Willis praised the jury's decision, noting Ferguson's consistent lies throughout the investigation and trial. Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Kailey Gillman and Dewey Mitchell led the prosecution, with support from District Attorney Investigator Stephanie Strickland and Assistant Criminal District Attorney John Rolater. Ranger FitzPatrick and Sgt. Reim were acknowledged for their dedication in finding Kelley's body and bringing Ferguson to justice.
