15-Year-Old Pleads Guilty to First-Degree Murder; Sentenced to Life in Prison

11 May 15-Year-Old Pleads Guilty to First-Degree Murder; Sentenced to Life in Prison

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Koalten Glenn Orr
2016

Koalten Glenn Orr (DOB: 1/29/2002) entered a plea of guilty for shooting and killing his father’s fiancé Laura Hendrix in their Vinita home on August 22, 2016.  A Craig County Judge sentenced Orr to life in prison with all but the first 25 years suspended.  First-degree murder is an 85% crime which means Orr will be about 40 years old before he’s eligible for parole.  Orr was charged and adjudicated as an adult.  By law a teenager is tried as an adult if charged with first-degree murder.

Following the murder Orr, who was 14 years old at the time, went to the Vinita Police Department where he told an officer he needed a hug then stated he’d just shot his stepmom.

Laura Beth Hendrix

Orr at one point claimed Hendrix had abused him however following today’s sentencing the prosecutor, Chief Assistant District Attorney Tony Evans told reporters “Evidence proved Hendrix didn’t abuse Orr.  Both through the police investigation and Orr’s own statements.”  Evans also praised the excellent investigative work both by the Vinita Police Department and the OSBI.

Hendrix’s father gave a victim impact statement during the sentencing and concluded by saying “For 38 years she was my best friend and right hand.  In a second that’s all gone … I can only hope that when you’re lying there at night that you come to realize what you have done.  Taken so much from so many.  Even your own dad.”

Orr’s father was in the courtroom and at the end of the docket as he broke down in tears members of Hendrix’s family hugged and comforted him.

Following sentencing Orr asked permission to turn around and address Laura’s family and apologized “for everything”.

The following are the victim impact statements written by Laura’s mother, daughter and father and presented during the sentencing:

Laura’s Mom Irene ––

Laura is my first born, my first love and she always will be.  My whole world fell apart on that August morning when my son came to my house to tell me that my daughter had been murdered.  I have never felt heartbreak that horrific until that morning.

It tore our family apart and we will never be the same again.  Laura was the heart and soul of our family.  She held us all together through the good times and the bad.

Every time I go to pick up the phone to call her or drive to her house just to talk to her I have to stop myself and the pain and heartache floods over me once more.

There is not a day or even a second that goes by that I do not miss her!

I just want to hear her voice, see her face and tell her that I LOVE HER SO MUCH.

Just one more time but I will never get that chance again because of the choice Koalten made that morning.

I will always love you Laura Beth Hendrix.

Love,
Mom

Laura Hendrix with her daughter Samantha

Laura’s daughter Samantha —

Koalten’s senseless act of violence has greatly affected my life and will continue to affect me every day for the rest of my life.  His violent and unthinkable actions left me without a mother to nurture me and guide me throughout life.

Because of him I will not have my mother by my side when I give birth to my child later this year.  I will not have her love and support to help me through the emotional and difficult days following.  I won’t have my mother by my side at my college graduation, to help me pick out my wedding dress, to ease my nerves on my wedding day or to help guide me on other monumental moments throughout my life.

All these precious moments a daughter shares with her mother have been stolen from me and were stolen from my mother.

My son will never know the love and compassion of his grandmother and he will be affected by Koalten’s actions throughout his entire life as well.

My mother was my best friend and my biggest supporter.  She was my shoulder to cry on, the one who reminded me of my worth on difficult days and the one who always encouraged me to follow my dreams.

The emotional impact her death has taken on me and my family is indescribable and was 100% avoidable.

Laura’s Dad Jim —

I’m sure you weren’t happy about moving into Laura’s house.  That was your dad’s decision not hers.  You were treated like family and involved in family events.  I wish I knew what happened for you to feel like it was necessary to kill her.

Now she’s gone and we have to try to continue our lives without her.  For 38 years she was my best friend and right hand.  In a second that’s all gone.  She always believed in me and trusted me without question.

So how does this affect me?  The worst part will be watching Samantha try to make it through her life without her mom.  They were inseparable.  Laura misses out on Samantha’s first baby, Laura’s Grandkid.  Laura will not be there to give her the help she will need.  She won’t be here to help Samantha with the rest of her life.

That goes for the entire family.  She was the one that kept those family ties intact.  Fixing squabbles, loaning money, whatever it took to keep us all together.

No more hugs, no more smiling face.  No more of a daughter I counted on her entire life.  Someone who truly loved me without limits.

I just don’t have the words or can say enough about her to convince you of our loss.  Not having her here will create a void I can never fill.

I can only hope that when you’re lying there at night that you come to realize what you have done.  Taken so much from so many.  Even your own dad.