St. Albans murderer receives life sentence with chance for parole after 15 years

The same jury on Friday convicted Guy of the first-degree murder of Koda Bryson Jarrett, 14, and second-degree murder of Alisha Brooke Carnefix, 39.

They also convicted him of using a firearm during the felony.

The victims’ family members were mostly silent when the sentence was announced. As he was led out, Guy apologized, saying “I hope you can forgive me.�

Kanawha County Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers will sentence Guy on the second-degree murder conviction and a related weapons conviction on April 23.

He faces up to 50 years imprisonment on those charges. Defense attorney Mark Plants said — depending on the judge’s sentence — Guy will not be able to ask for parole for 27½ years, at the longest.

“Everybody’s better than the worst thing they ever did. It’s a hard thing to ask jurors to judge people for not only what they did in a split second but judge them 15 years from now,� Plants said.

Debra Rusnak, Kanawha County prosecuting attorney, said the victims’ family has “suffered more, endured more and survived more than any family should have to.�

“While those who knew and loved these victims will never be the same, we only hope the convictions.... bring some semblance of peace and justice to this fractured family,� Rusnak said. “Whatever happens at sentencing..., the defendant will be an old man before he breathes free air again, and that is justice.�

Mother’s testimony

Defense attorney Ed Bullman called Guy, his mother Candra Guy and a family friend to ask for a sentence of mercy.

At Monday’s hearing, evidence presented detailed previous interactions Markus Guy had with law enforcement, including two times his mother called the police.

Candra Guy said she was not afraid of her son at those times but tried to restore order to her home. Markus Guy has two sons, an 11-year-old and a 23-month-old, she said. He is a good father.

“I love my son, and I don’t want to see him serve the rest of his life in prison when he has two sons that dearly need a father,� she said.

Under cross-examination, Candra Guy said she prayed for Jarrett’s and Carnefix’s family every day.

Guy said he has a ‘good heart’

Guy apologized to the family and asked for forgiveness. He said he had a “good heart� and asked the jury for mercy.

He said he left the victims in the home and didn’t call 911 because he was scared and didn’t know what to do.

“I’d just like to let you know that I really believe that my kids need me and with the verdict that came back, there’s a good chance I’ll miss a lot of their lives,� he said. “I’d still like the possibility to maybe be in my grandkids’ lives.�

Jarrett ‘transcended friend groups’

The state called four witnesses who knew Jarrett well.

All described him as sweet, caring and joyful. He played the trombone in the band at Winfield Middle School and had aspirations of being a pilot.

Matt Shock, Winfield Middle principal, wore a neon pink shirt in honor of Jarrett, whose favorite color was pink. Shock said he noticed that Jarrett “transcended friend groups� and was friends with everyone in the cliquey environment of middle school.

A Winfield Middle School award, called the Koda Jarrett Memorial Band Award, honors Jarrett’s memory by providing a WMS student with funds to do something better in the community “as Koda would have done.�

Hailey Douglas, 15, was Jarrett’s cousin and best friend. She wore a pink shirt and a pink button that said, “Fly High Koda.�

Shortly before his murder, Douglas and Jarrett went sledding. At the bottom of the hill, Jarrett said, “This is probably the closest we’ll ever be.�

“I didn’t think it actually would be,� Douglas said.

The two were always laughing, she said. To Jarrett, everything was “hilarious.�

“If y’all ever met him, he would change your life in the most positive way. Everyone around him was always smiling. If you had a bad mood he would cheer you up in an instant,� she said. “There wasn’t a time when I was around Koda where I was sad or upset because he was so bright.�