Six year old Keenan O'Mailia went bike riding near Riverview Park while his mother cooked dinner inside her apartment. He never returned home. His body was found the next day just outside the park after a massive search. Downs had only been in Augusta for three months, having moved from Albany, Ga., when he learned he had a son in the area. He crossed the 13th Street bridge into North Augusta one day and saw Keenan riding a bike along a dirt path. He stopped the boy and asked his name before throwing the boy to the ground and raping and strangling him.
Downs confessed and pled guilty, telling the Judge he deserved to die for his crime. "I think it would be disrespectful to the family and disrespectful to the whole world if you did not give me the death penalty." Downs also pleaded guilty in 2005 to kidnapping, raping and killing a 10-year-old boy in Augusta in 1991. As part of a plea deal, and since he was already condemned to die in South Carolina, Downs agreed to be sentenced to two consecutive life sentences, plus 10 years.
Downs confessed and pled guilty, telling the Judge he deserved to die for his crime. "I think it would be disrespectful to the family and disrespectful to the whole world if you did not give me the death penalty." Downs also pleaded guilty in 2005 to kidnapping, raping and killing a 10-year-old boy in Augusta in 1991. As part of a plea deal, and since he was already condemned to die in South Carolina, Downs agreed to be sentenced to two consecutive life sentences, plus 10 years.
Six year old Keenan O'Mailia went bike riding near Riverview Park while his mother cooked dinner inside her apartment. He never returned home. His body was found the next day just outside the park after a massive search. Downs had only been in Augusta for three months, having moved from Albany, Ga., when he learned he had a son in the area. He crossed the 13th Street bridge into North Augusta one day and saw Keenan riding a bike along a dirt path. He stopped the boy and asked his name before throwing the boy to the ground and raping and strangling him.
Downs confessed and pled guilty, telling the Judge he deserved to die for his crime. "I think it would be disrespectful to the family and disrespectful to the whole world if you did not give me the death penalty." Downs also pleaded guilty in 2005 to kidnapping, raping and killing a 10-year-old boy in Augusta in 1991. As part of a plea deal, and since he was already condemned to die in South Carolina, Downs agreed to be sentenced to two consecutive life sentences, plus 10 years.
Downs confessed and pled guilty, telling the Judge he deserved to die for his crime. "I think it would be disrespectful to the family and disrespectful to the whole world if you did not give me the death penalty." Downs also pleaded guilty in 2005 to kidnapping, raping and killing a 10-year-old boy in Augusta in 1991. As part of a plea deal, and since he was already condemned to die in South Carolina, Downs agreed to be sentenced to two consecutive life sentences, plus 10 years.
Gravesite Details
Thank You Barbara R. Davis for sponsoring Keenan O'Mailia Memorial.
