Friends Get “Justice” for Murder of Creighton Professor - FOX 42: Omaha News, Sports and Weather; kptm.com |

Friends Get “Justice” for Murder of Creighton Professor

 Maureen Wurtz

OMAHA (KPTM)- An Omaha man is sentenced Tuesday for helping his sister murder her landlord.

"I'm alright, it's life," said Gary Lee, as he was escorted out of the courtroom in handcuffs.

21-year-old Gary Lee was sentenced 65 to 100 years for taking the life of Creighton Professor, Karen Jenkins, in October 2010.

Jenkins was the landlord of Lee's sister Monique.  Just days before her murder, she evicted Lee.

Gary Lee plead guilty to second-degree murder in October 2011. Lee had struck a plea deal with Douglas County attorneys, and agreed to testify against his sister.

Monique Lee's first time in court was declared a ‘mistrial' due to a psychiatric test.

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said the deal was null, after Lee lied on the stand in his sister's second trial. "He lied under oath in a first degree murder trial, I don't know how much more serious that can get."

Kleine said Lee recounted his original testimony, and said he was the one who murdered Jenkins, not his sister.

"Lee has made efforts to sabotage the system," said Kleine.  Efforts that the jury saw through, and convicted him, said Klein.  

Lee was found guilty of second-degree murder October 2011, and later plead guilty to perjury in September 2012.

The maximum time for perjury is 20 years; Lee was sentenced 5 to 10.

 "If it doesn't justify the max on perjury under these circumstances on a first-degree murder trial, I don't know what does," said county attorney, Brenda Beetle.

 Friends of Jenkins said, no matter what the sentence, the good thing is Lee will be behind bars. "There is justice because he did not get away with it," said Jenkins' self-described life-long friend, Lindsey DeBerry.

 DeBerry said the whole trial has been a long journey, but one he promises to take. "It's also a road we have to take, this is a road we have no choice but to travel-we have to do it for Karen."

 Gary Lee's sister, Monique, was found guilty of first-degree Murder in August 2011. She will be sentenced in November.