The case of a Klamath County woman serving a life sentence for her role in the brutal hatchet murder of her mother and brother is getting a ‘second look’.
Jessica Tibbets was only 14 when she urged her 23 year old boyfriend Raymond Eddings to take a hatchet to her 43 year old mother Bennie Jo Tibbets, and 16 year old brother Billy Ray Tower in 1998.
Klamath County Deputy District Attorney Richard Dalrymple was one of the prosecutors…
“And he struck her in the back of the head – and he hit her, and he hit her, and he hit her when she was down – she stayed down. And about this time, Billy Ray, the brother, was getting up off the sofa – and the defendant walked over and hit Billy Ray on the side of the head.”
Jessica Tibbets and Raymond Eddings then set fire to the house.
Eddings is serving a life sentence, with no chance for parole.
But since Jessica Tibbets was only 14 at the time, state law allows her to be considered for early release since she’s served half of her 30 year minimum sentence.
Jessica Tibbets expressed remorse at today’s hearing…
“I wasn’t able to be honest at first, because I couldn’t deal with the facts yet – I had done those horrible things.”
Mary Jane Goverts, a volunteer at Coffee Creek Corrections, says Tibbets has done well in prison…
“She continues to be a model. And I’ll be really honest and say, a model of what can happen when you do take accountability for your crime.”
However, several relatives were in court today to argue that Tibbets shouldn’t be released, including Betty Sabatini, the twin sister of Bennie Jo Tibbets…
“I have the same face that she killed. She didn’t just kill them, she mutilated them. With not remorse whatsoever. Do I think she should go free Absolutely not. No.”
Judge Roxanne Osborne did not make a ruling today as to whether or not Tibbets will be released.
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