Third guilty plea in Elkhorn case

Teresa Carson had been beaten by her husband.

But when she spoke with her daughter about some family members' plan to kill Brian Carson, prosecutors say, she had something other than revenge on her mind.

Brian Carson's death could give them $50,000 in life insurance proceeds – enough for a new life and a new car, Sara Carson recalled her mother saying.

And if Teresa Carson got a new car, she told Sara that Sara could have her old one, prosecutor Brenda Beadle said.

Beadle said those conversations took place before Brian Carson was beaten to death April 4 in the Carsons' Elkhorn-area home.

“Teresa Carson made comments, ‘If you're going to do it, just don't do it in my house,'” Beadle said. “And, ‘If you do it in my house, make sure you clean it up.'”

Teresa Carson denied that those conversations took place – or that she had any knowledge that her husband was going to be killed.

However, the 42-year-old Omaha woman pleaded guilty this morning to being an accessory to a felony in connection with the death of her estranged husband.

Her attorney, James Martin Davis, said Teresa Carson pleaded guilty because she gave false information to police after learning of her husband's death.

Teresa Carson is the third of the Elkhorn Eight to plead guilty in Douglas County District Court. She faces up to 20 years in prison when she is sentenced in January.

Eight people – including Brian Carson's son, daughter and former girlfriend -- are charged in connection with his beating death.

Prosecutors say Ryan Carson beat his father to death in a rage over his father beating his mother and having sex with Ryan Carson's girlfriend. The girlfriend, Nicole Walker, pleaded guilty earlier this month to her own accessory charges for helping to dispose of Brian Carson's body.

Teresa Carson's plea essentially was forced by information her daughter gave police, Davis said. Davis said Sara Carson's comments were not true.

Asked why Sara Carson would lie about her mother's involvement, Davis said she was doing so to get a better deal because she's facing a “first-degree murder charge” and wants her case transferred to juvenile court.

Sara Carson was not charged with first-degree murder but was charged with being an accessory and conspiring to commit a felony by luring her father to the home before he was killed. She has cooperated and has agreed to testify for the state.

Beadle said prosecutors are not opposing Sara Carson's transfer to juvenile court.

« Metro/Region

Share