In the summer of 2016, a grim discovery was made in a wooded area in Oak Grove, Kentucky, bringing a tragic end to the search for a missing teenager. The body of 19-year-old De'Andre Marquis Palmer of Clarksville, Tennessee, was found by an Oak Grove police officer on July 20, 2016, near Ghost Bridge on Carter Road. Palmer had been reported missing just days earlier, on July 17, 2016.
The officer was drawn to the location by a strong odor while on patrol, leading to the heartbreaking finding several feet from the roadway.
The investigation into the death of the young male quickly moved forward, and soon two suspects were identified and taken into custody. Deqavion M. James, 18, and Leonardo D. Miller, 19, both from Oak Grove, were arrested in connection with the murder. James turned himself in to the Hopkinsville Police Department, while Miller was already incarcerated on unrelated charges. The investigation revealed a chilling sequence of events that occurred on July 16, 2016. According to arrest warrants, Miller instructed James to shoot Palmer with a nod. When Miller gave the signal, James shot Palmer once, and then Miller shot him a second time.
Following the shooting, the suspects robbed Palmer, taking cash and other items from his pockets before hiding his body in a closet. His body was later moved from the residence and abandoned on Carter Road where it was eventually discovered. Both James and Miller faced charges of murder, first-degree robbery, and tampering with physical evidence. The Commonwealth initially sought the death penalty in the case.
Ultimately, both men accepted plea deals. Leonardo Miller pleaded guilty to murder, robbery, and evidence tampering, receiving a 40-year prison sentence. Deqavion James pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, first-degree robbery, and tampering with evidence, which resulted in a recommended 20-year sentence. During the sentencing, Palmer's mother addressed James, speaking of her son's ambitions and dreams that were cut short and stating that he and Miller had treated her son like garbage. Judge John Atkins followed the plea agreement and sentenced James to 20 years in prison.
