Ronald K. Kendricks, a 35-year-old Black/African American man known for his skilled trade and wide-ranging passions, was killed in his former hometown of Parsons, Kansas, on the evening of Sunday, April 19, 2015. His death, which was initially shrouded in uncertainty for the public, was the result of a violent act for which a perpetrator was ultimately identified, convicted, and sentenced, bringing a legal conclusion to a tragic loss.
Born in Parsons on December 10, 1979, to parents Ronald K. Kendricks, Sr. and Lovey L. Dunn, Ronald grew up attending schools in both Parsons and Topeka. As a young man, he pursued higher education at Intellitec College in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he earned an Associate of Arts degree in HVAC. This qualification launched his career as a journeyman, and he settled in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It was in Colorado Springs that he married Katrina Hartwell on April 9, 2010.
Together, they raised a family that included their son, Sadiq Muhammad Kendricks, and two daughters, Camille Marie Kendricks and Victoria Chantay Hartwell.
Those who knew Ronald remembered a man of many dimensions. He was a member of the Nation of Islam in Oklahoma City and enjoyed speaking with his fellow brothers. His interests were varied, spanning from watching movies and reading to the quiet pastimes of fishing and gardening. He also possessed a creative streak, finding joy in baking, and had a keen interest in martial arts. He was a family man, survived by his wife, children, parents, and numerous siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins who felt his loss deeply.
The specific events that transpired on the evening of April 19, 2015, leading to Ronald's death in Parsons have not been detailed in public reports. However, the investigation conducted by local law enforcement was not without resolution. While it may have appeared to some that the case went cold, court records from Labette County District Court confirm that the Parsons Police Department made an arrest in connection with the homicide.
Investigators identified Cleveland Lavell Lee as the person responsible for Ronald's death. Following his arrest, Lee was charged and brought before the court to face justice. The legal process concluded when Lee pleaded no contest to a charge of voluntary manslaughter. As a result of his plea, the court found him guilty and sentenced him to 156 months, or 13 years, in prison. This conviction and sentence brought a definitive legal end to the investigation into who was accountable for the killing.
Tragically, this was not the first time Ronald had been a victim of violence. Less than a year earlier, on the night of July 8, 2014, he was shot in the nearby city of Coffeyville, Kansas. Police officers found him near the intersection of 1st and Grant Street with a serious gunshot wound. He was rushed to Coffeyville Regional Medical Center and ultimately recovered from his injuries. No suspect was ever publicly identified in connection with that earlier attack.
A funeral service to honor Ronald K. Kendricks's life was held on Saturday, April 25, 2015, at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. He was laid to rest in Oakwood Cemetery. With the conviction and imprisonment of Cleveland Lavell Lee, the homicide case of Ronald Kendricks is considered solved and closed by the justice system.
