Kirts gets 55 years for strangulation murder in Newton County
Jan 11, 2021
KENTLAND — From the very first hearing, Nicole Bowen’s family and close friends have shown up to the Newton County Courthouse wearing blue shirts saying “Justice for Nicole.” Some sort of justice may have finally arrived for them, 20 months later, as Garrett Kirts, one of two primary suspects of the March 30, 2019 homicide of Nicole Bowen, was sentenced to 55 years in prison on Jan. 11, 2021.
The years of the sentence were just a formality as Kirts had previously pled guilty as part of a plea agreement that spelled out the length of the sentence.
Kirts, sporting a freshly shaven head, did not speak at the hearing and made little eye contact throughout the hearing, however, two of Nicole’s family members did give emotional speeches before he was taken away.
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Kirts did not speak, but his public defender Codey Spear did make a statement.
Spear stated that this case is a prime illustration of what drug abuse has done to area communities.
“In these circumstances, there will never be fairness, but I believe this plea is just,” said Spear.
Before sending Kirts on his way to the department of corrections, Newton County Superior Court Judge Daniel Molter urged everyone in attendance to feel that justice has been served in this case.
“I believe no stone was left unturned and no theory of culpability left unchallenged,” said Molter. “Law enforcement personnel and our Prosecutor Jeff Drinski and his staff reached new heights in diligence and determination in their attempts to bring closure and accountability to these cases. Mr. Kirts, when you appeared in court some time ago and offered testimony in support of your guilty plea, you set forth the story that played out that fateful evening.
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While you took an electrical cord and ‘played to an audience,’ Nicole stood helplessly alone to die a terrifying death and absolutely no one came to her aid.
Even your tone of voice in your courtroom narrative spoke an air of callousness and nonchalant resignation one might expect of someone who inadvertently disregarded a stop sign or dropped litter in the church parking lot.
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Bowen’s body was found in a hunting shack in the area of CR 1275 S east of CR 600 W northwest of Kentland.
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Kirts and Garth are just two of the five suspects that were charged in the case of the death of Bowen.
Talitha Beckley of Monticello and Christopher Mathis of Kentland have both been charged with assisting a criminal, while Jasmine N. Parker of Kentland, was sentenced to five years in prison by Newton County Superior Court Judge Daniel Molter on Oct. 7 after she pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal.
“Murder cases are always long and drawn out, and I wasn’t positive a jury would have agreed to life without parole,” said Drinski. “We had discussions with the family and explained the plea deal and why we chose 55 years.
Through the development of this case, Garth has become a primary suspect as well and we are currently negotiating a plea agreement with her attorney.
