Las Vegas Double Murderer Gets Life Without Parole
by
Nick Wooldridge on Apr. 03, 2018
Summary: Convicted rapist and killer Bryan Clay was sentenced to life in prison for raping and killing Ignacia Martinez and her daughter, Karla, in 2012.
While Clay sat quietly in a dark inmate uniform in a Las Vegas courtroom, prosecutors replayed recorded calls the killer made and received.
Prosecutor Pamela Weckerly told the judge, “He said that he tricked the jury, that he’ll be out soon and his appeal will be fast.”
A jury of twelve women decided not to send Clay to death row for the murders. They opted for sending Clay to prison for life with no chance of parole.
Clay was convicted in November 2017, for the attack which almost killed Martinez’s husband, Arturo.
Clay hadn’t spoken publicly about the murders in over five years. He broke his silence on the fourth day of his trial’s penalty phase and said, “If it weren’t for my lawyers and my daughter, I would be you all for death.”
On the phone, Clay proffered warnings to other sufferers in the case as well as an onlooker who linked him to a pilfered cell phone from another assault happening within hours of the killing.
“Mr. Clay does not accept any responsibility for what he did,” Wecklery told the judge. “What is even scarier, he does not recognize the murders committed.”
Clay had told law enforcement he had been drinking and taking drugs and didn’t remember the murders.
Weckerly filled the jury in on Clay’s past crimes: he had fondled and assaulted a female classmate in high school and beat his expectant girlfriend for “disrespecting” him.
Weckerly told jurors it was time for Clay to face the consequences of his actions.
“Up until today, the only impact on his lifestyle is the deprivation of freedom,” she said. “He didn’t have to clean up blood. He didn’t have to inform his brother this his mother was dead. He didn’t have to deal with grieving kids.”
“I’ve got a big mouth,” Clay told the judge. “We’re not yet,” Clay continued as he hinted at an appeal. “It’s not finished.”
Listening, Judge Herndon pushed his glasses back, leaned forward and informed Clay the calls show an absence of regret and perception.
“This has plagued me since the beginning comments,” Herndon said. “If anything were to be called ‘unspeakable,’ it would be this case.”
Clay told the judge, “I heard God’s forgiveness is unlimited. I hope God can forgive me. I hope everyone can forgive me.”
“At some point in the solitude of your cell in prison, you’re going to face responsibility and accountability,” the judge said before rapping his gavel and closing the case.
