Louisville judge rules triple-murder defendant Brice Rhodes is not eligible for the death penalty

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville judge has found that testimony about Brice Rhodes is “credible, historical, unbiased evidence that shows (Rhodes) is intellectually disabled and suffers from a serious mental illness,” ruling he will not be eligible for the death penalty in his triple-murder trial.

If convicted later this year of killing three people in 2016, the harshest sentence Rhodes now faces is life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Jefferson Circuit Court Judge Julie Kaelin ruled Friday, a day after hearing testimony from experts on both sides as to whether Rhodes was eligible to face the death penalty.

After a similar hearing in April, Kaelin ruled there was “no conclusive testimony that he is incompetent” to stand trial.

A summary of Rhodes’ multiple IQ tests show scores being in the 70 to 80s range, which is “in the realm of intellectual functioning.”

In Kentucky, a person can no longer be found intellectually disabled and incompetent for trial simply because they have an IQ of 70 or below. Instead, the state Supreme Court in 2018 determined defendants must undergo a “totality of the circumstances test,” including whether they have the ability to learn basic skills and adjust their behavior to circumstances, among other guidelines.

Kaelin found that Rhodes has a documented history of serious mental illness or intellectual disability and “this is not a close case” as to whether he is eligible for the death penalty.

“The Court cannot allow such a person to be subjected to the death penalty, regardless of public clamor," she ruled, arguing she should not be swayed by fear of criticism.

Jury selection for the trial will begin on Dec. 11.

The high-profile case has been pending since 2016 and was scheduled for trial in January 2022 before Rhodes' defense asked for a competency evaluation, claiming Rhodes had an "intellectual disability."

Because of a statewide backlog, it took KCPC more than a year to evaluate Rhodes on whether he is competent to stand trial or should be eligible for the death penalty.

Rhodes is accused of shooting and killing Christopher Jones in May 2016. Later that month, he allegedly killed 14-year-old Larry Ordway and 16-year-old Maurice Gordon. Police have said the two were killed at Rhodes' home in Clifton. Their bodies were dumped in the Shawnee neighborhood and set on fire.

Rhodes allegedly killed the two brothers because he feared they would tell police about his involvement in Jones' murder.

He is being held on a $1 million full cash bond.