In May of 2021, the life of 41-year-old James R. Kenney, a white male, was brought to a violent end in Springfield, Missouri. His body was discovered inside a trailer on West Page Street on May 17, 2021, the victim of multiple gunshot wounds. The discovery launched a significant criminal investigation that would soon uncover a story of gang rivalry and retribution.
Investigators learned that Kenney was a member of a white supremacist prison gang known as the Southwest Honkies.
This affiliation proved to be a critical element in the events leading to his death. Two men, John Hilt and Justin Murphy, both members of a rival white supremacist group called the Family Values gang, were identified as the primary suspects. The motive for the killing was reportedly linked to allegations that Kenney had stolen drugs and had made threats against one of Murphy's family members.
According to court documents, Hilt and Murphy went to Kenney's residence on May 15, 2021, with the intention of assaulting him. During the ensuing confrontation, Hilt shot Kenney multiple times. The search for the two suspects culminated in separate and dramatic captures. Hilt was involved in a shootout with police at a gas station before stealing a vehicle and hiding out in a motel for 12 hours. Murphy was apprehended after a high-speed chase that ended in a crash.
In August 2022, John Hilt pleaded guilty to a number of charges, including second-degree murder. He entered an Alford plea, not admitting guilt but acknowledging that the prosecution had enough evidence for a conviction. He was sentenced to 27 years in prison. Justin Murphy was also charged with second-degree murder for his role in the death of James R. Kenney.
