Man sentenced to life in prison for slaying
By Schuyler Kropf
Keith Renard Bradley was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday after a Charleston County jury convicted him of murdering Miriam Leeks with a shovel for refusing to follow through in a trade of sex for crack cocaine.
Bradley, 31, was found guilty after roughly three hours of deliberation, largely on the testimony of two co-defendants.
After the verdict was read, Leeks' family asked for the maximum penalty of life behind bars, saying her life was worth more than the hard times she'd fallen on.
"She was loved," her sister, Mary Brown, told Circuit Judge Benjamin Culbertson. "What happened to her, a stray mangy dog did not deserve."
Testimony this week said Bradley beat the 37-year-old Leeks to death in May 2002 in a North Charleston trailer park. The two, and a co-defendant in the case, met earlier that day and drove around until their encounter erupted into violence.
"She didn't have a chance that night," Assistant Solicitor Trip Lawton told the jury. Her body was found wrapped in garbage bags and sheets near Adams Run.
The 2002 murder was considered a cold case homicide until Valentine's Day 2006 when a witness suddenly came forward giving information that led to the arrests.
Testifying against Bradley were co-defendants Hans Frazier, 37, who still is accused of murder and kidnapping in the case, and Cynthia Major, who is charged with accessory after the fact of murder.
Frazier admitted on the witness stand to beating Leeks that night, while Major supplied the coverings used to wrap her dead body. Their cases will be handled later.
During his closing argument, Bradley's public defender, Beattie Butler, asked the jury to question the reliability of the co-defendants' testimony, saying both expected leniency for their cooperation in prosecuting Bradley. Frazier "made a race to the Sheriff's Office to talk," Butler said. Prosecutors said no deal had been struck.
Bradley was found guilty of murder but not guilty of a related charge of kidnapping. He has previous convictions for armed robbery and strong armed robbery, authorities said. He'd also skipped out of the area last year just as his case was to be called for trial. He was arrested on the grounds of a homeless shelter in Berkeley County.
Bradley's wife described him as good man and wanted him to come home to his family as soon as possible. Bradley did not speak after the verdict but through his attorney maintained his innocence. His sentence begins immediately.
Reach Schuyler Kropf at skropf@postandcourier.com or 937-5551.
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Comments
granny2 (anonymous) says...
Well said Harpo, and why in the world would his wife want him back home (maybe she likes shovel beatings)
January 17, 2008 at 6:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tulane75 (anonymous) says...
I am certain the above comments were made to make a point. I understand the anger and get the point. Nevertheless, this wasn't a death penalty case. Therefore, people who believe in Due Process and the rule of law understand why execution is not an option when the sentence is LIFE. Personally, I think LWOP is worse than execution.
January 17, 2008 at 8:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
greyrider (anonymous) says...
I know this doesn't make sense, but death row facilities being what they are, it is actually MORE expensive to put him on death row than it is to leave him in prison for life. Remember, most people sit on death row for years and years before actually being executed. It's a shame that some people become SO addicted to drugs that they degrade themselves to this level. It's a shame this happened to her. Stories like this are why I tell people to not even start to do drugs. Everybody says "I can handle it" and some people do just party a little and then give it up. But in the beginning, you don't know if you will be able to give it up or if you will end up like this lady. My prayers go out to her friends and family.
January 17, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lexylady (anonymous) says...
Tripsa, If you are on this page today, I just want you to know that I dreamed last night about sex with a helment on, and it caused me severe nightmares. I feel you are to blame for this. LOL. I laughed so hard last night over the comments made yesterday. You started it and boy did it snowball! You must do this again sometime. Thanks for the laughs. We can all use it!!
January 17, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
i wonder if the victim was a school marm or suburban housewife if the death penalty would have been sought.
January 17, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lexylady (anonymous) says...
desspec, I gave Tripsa the credit for the wrong comment. It was you that made the helment comment. Sorry. You both would be great on Comedy central.
January 17, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charlene68 (anonymous) says...
I think a life sentence was to good for him
January 17, 2008 at 9:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
greyrider (anonymous) says...
Early, he's obviously some violent nutcase. She may have just said that because she's scared to death of him.
January 17, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Girleygirl (anonymous) says...
My gosh...I heard a good man was hard to find but sheesh. If that the only man around in the world, I will try my luck at Generation X andfind my toy husband. At least I know if I harm myself I have no one to blame but me. No shovels please!
This wife should count her blessings because it could have easily been her on the other end of that shovel.
Both of these men took the time to hide her body dump it and live without guilt for 4 years until someone finally confessed...they deserve the death penalty.
January 17, 2008 at 9:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
Scary huh? I'm single but I'd rather become a lesbian (and probably have a lot less drama) than be so desperate than to hold on to someone as vicious as this. But you never know what's in someone's heart, some women are so fearful of being alone that they would put up with hell on earth than to try to make it on their own
January 17, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
forget (anonymous) says...
Well, wasn't this a sex for drugs case? Maybe his wife really missses the extra income he was bringing in?
January 17, 2008 at 10:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
forget (anonymous) says...
Or maybe she was a customer, too. Maybe it's even harder to find a good, honest dealer than to find a good man?!
January 17, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Girleygirl (anonymous) says...
I don't know Ey- You still got to deal with person to person contact and when you both need to use the bathroom at the same time...all hell might break loose...
I'm sticking with Bubba the blow up doll..even though he's full of hot air, he still can't talk back...
LOL @ Forget...the standards us women have to do to find a good dealer..I mean supplier...I mean man
January 17, 2008 at 11:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
forget (anonymous) says...
Isn't there alot of women that go after men in prison? She could have her husband, without alot of negatives that go along with it. Like that nasty sex for drugs thing he got himself into, he won't leave the toilet seat up, won't be laying on her couch while she goes to work, and don't forget about the possible STD's he might be bringing home. None of those worries ever again!
January 17, 2008 at 11:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Girleygirl (anonymous) says...
Early- I can tell you don't watch HBO after dark. lol
January 17, 2008 at 11:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
forget (anonymous) says...
I'm afraid to watch HBO late again. We were out of town (Atlanta) one weekend and turned it on late Sat. night (1 am) and there were a group of females testing out "equipment" for a company and taking notes. True story.
January 17, 2008 at 12:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
hey girley: send me the website for that purchase. lololol just kiddin'.
or am i?
i've never seen one, but i can only imagine, squeaky noises late at night. battery pump noises. he would really come in handy if we had HOV lanes on I26.
girley what have you started?
January 17, 2008 at 12:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
forget (anonymous) says...
I guess that's the next best thing after having the husband in prison, and it gets you in the HOV lanes, too. Like I said, after what she had, this could only be a step upward.
January 17, 2008 at 12:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Girleygirl (anonymous) says...
LMAO- I'm sorry
I will blame Tripsa since she started it yesterday...LOL
WHERE ARE YOU TRIPSA????
I saw that blow up doll on HBO Real Sex and my mouth dropped to the floor. I was so ashamed to watch it, but I could not and did not want to turn the TV....lol
Early- Its not Cinemax its SKINamax.....I was watching it late one night too and I THOUGHT I was watching Lord of the Rings...but I did not see little hobbits running around.....and again I kept watching it......
January 17, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
forget (anonymous) says...
Sometimes you can't not watch!
January 17, 2008 at 12:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Test2007 (anonymous) says...
All of ya'll - TMI
January 17, 2008 at 12:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
forget (anonymous) says...
Just things that inquiring minds want to know. We need to be informed so that we can make valid points in these discussions. There is no such thing as too much knowledge.
January 17, 2008 at 12:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Girleygirl (anonymous) says...
I need to watch HBO and Cinemax to keep up with the young girls today..I'm single and a good man is hard to find..lol...I'm calling Comcast later on to get Showtime.....KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
January 17, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MotoryachtSoCo (anonymous) says...
Funny bunch of comments on here. Very random.... I can't wait for openning day!
January 17, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Girleygirl (anonymous) says...
I'm sorry yall but I am in rare form today and that last paragraph of this article just messed me up.
The whole story just messed me up
1st yuck- Two men engaging in an illegal contract with one woman for drugs.
2nd yuck-they both killed her and disposed of her body and did not bothered to do anything until someone confessed. It took them 4 years!!!!
3rd yuck- His wife still wants him after he was living in a homeless shelter...he left her to take care of hisself..
and the last yuck- his wife said he's a good man. I guess he did not hit her in the head with a shovel.....
January 17, 2008 at 2:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
forget (anonymous) says...
Not a real controversial article for us. We all found out we felt pretty much the same, so we put the comment space to better use - stand up comedy.
January 17, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
forget (anonymous) says...
As you can tell, their conscience wasn't really bothering them much.
I like the fact after all he did, she was wanting him back. I mean, isn't that a Springer show or something?
January 17, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
forget (anonymous) says...
Did any of you catch the story of a woman shooting an intruder that was under her bed?
January 17, 2008 at 2:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Girleygirl (anonymous) says...
I don't think Jerry would have been able to handle this one....they fight with no weapons....
January 17, 2008 at 2:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Girleygirl (anonymous) says...
Forget- I read that one too...an Urban Legend that was true huh?
She should have had a shovel to beat his tail to death, but I'm proud of her!!!!
January 17, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
forget (anonymous) says...
True! I bet she doesn't even have to lock her doors anymore! Some gun manufacturer needs to use her as their spokesperson.
January 17, 2008 at 2:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Girleygirl (anonymous) says...
Doug Hoffman might use her as a spokesperson
January 17, 2008 at 3:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
forget (anonymous) says...
He's kinda unnerving. No mattr what the subject is, the answer is to give them a gun!
January 17, 2008 at 3:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Girleygirl (anonymous) says...
LOL--I remember his first post. I was like huh? Then he kept saying it....he even said it with the PETA article...I was like guns, chickens, and eggs...hmmmmmmmmmmmmm..
January 17, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
forget (anonymous) says...
I'll bet it's interesting growing up in his house. Almost like raising little soldiers of fortune. Kids come in crying someone pushed him down in the playground, dad gives him a pistol, sends him back out....
January 17, 2008 at 4:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
Good comic relief & entertaining quick wit.
It is quick wit, isn't it? None of ya'll had to think too hard or long for the one liners???...did ya?
January 17, 2008 at 4:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
forget (anonymous) says...
No, life gives us plenty of material to work with.
January 17, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Girleygirl (anonymous) says...
LMAO- I don't even know what to say about the little soldier of fortune bit
He may give him a bb gun so his argument could be his kid did not know any better.
Yeah right Ask Ralphy what happened to him and his red rider bb gun.....
Coldbeer- both men deserve the death penalty. No disrespect to the family of Mariam Leeks but they were probably thinking the same thing...what the hell is wrong with this wife. I am happy they ask for the mandatory sentence and I just wish it was death penalty because the way they discarded this woman was just wrong.
January 17, 2008 at 4:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hillbilly (anonymous) says...
After reading today's comments on this story I'm convinced somebody left the door to the loony bin open.
January 17, 2008 at 6:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Pratt07 (anonymous) says...
You guys are all crazy....
It's been a long day for me today and I've enjoyed nothing more today than reading these posts...I needed the laugh.
January 17, 2008 at 6:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lexylady (anonymous) says...
Someone please tell me where I can find one of those blow up dolls!! Do they come in different sizes?? If at all possible, I need one that comes complete, with his very own shovel!! LOL
January 17, 2008 at 6:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
The door to the loony bin fell off a long time ago.
January 17, 2008 at 7:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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