Oklahoma man convicted of killing woman in front of her children

Friday, January 20th 2006, 6:19 am

By: News On 6

JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) -- A gang member from Oklahoma is convicted in Missouri of instigating the killing of his ex-girlfriend because she was sleeping with another man and selling his drugs.

Newton County jurors deliberated about 80 minutes Thursday before finding Brian Lamel McDaniel guilty of first-degree murder in the July 2001 fatal shooting of Kendace DeCarlo, who was wounded in front of her 6 and 8-year-old children.

McDaniel and co-defendant Donald Overton were suspected members of a Bloods gang from Tulsa. Overton is scheduled to go to trial in March on a charge of first-degree murder.

During the trial, former gang member Isreal Ward testified that McDaniel -- who drove the getaway car -- had told him he intended to kill DeCarlo and Thomas Smith.

Ward said McDaniel was mad that DeCarlo and Smith were having a sexual relationship and that DeCarlo was selling both McDaniel's drugs and Smith's drugs.

Formal sentencing has been set for February 21st. The crime carries a sentence of life without parole.