Brooklyn Man Takes Fried Chicken in Oregon Murder Plea

Tremayne Durham, who served time for a Manhattan rape in 1992, decided to plead guilty to murdering an Oregon man in exchange for "feast of KFC chicken, Popeye's chicken, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, carrot cake and ice cream." Durham originally ordered an $18,000 ice cream truck, but changed his mind. The Oregon company wouldn't refund his money, so Durham took a bus to Oregon and killed a former employee of the company while looking for the owner. The judge agreed to the odd plea deal because it would cost $4,000 for a trial, telling an Oregon paper, "If a couple buckets of chicken are going to help to get a conviction, then get some biscuits to go with it." And after his sentencing, Durham also got "calzones, lasagna, pizza and ice cream"--here's the full spread.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on August 8, 2008 9:50 AM

Comments [rss]

NannyState

I'd confess to having watched patiently as a Citi ATM munched somebody else's card instead of rescuing it and handing it in to a teller...for a bucket of Original recipe.

Whammo

Who says crime doesn't pay?

ninnikuramen

1. Chick-Fil-A

2. Bojangles

3. Popeyes

4. Church's Chicken

4. KFC

pgmd2345

I can't believe I'm spending my Friday afternoon arguing this, but my old roommate worked there and said Popeye's Chicken is in fact fried in pig fat.

If you close your eyes while tasting a Popeye's drumstick it sorta tastes like a boneless pork spare rib from any greasy Chinese take-out.

If your brave enough, eat both for lunch and you'll see what I'm taking about; trust me.

Politburo

"Popeye's is fried in lard"

Actually it's a mixture of tallow (beef fat) and partially-hydrogenated soybean oil, according to their website.

chinolam

no love for churches?

...anyway all that food sounds really good.

Spirit of 76

If only all criminals could be so easy to convict. Actually, this could make a great ad campaign for either chain.

ed_Extinct

kennedy fried chicken!

pgmd2345

Popeye's is fried in lard which makes it inedible for all Muslim's and Pollotarians out there.

r_friend

It's finger lickin' and murder confessin' good, apparently. Wow.

zodak

i used to work at the fkc on 125th & broadway.

mmmm fresh biscuits!

(yes, i still eat kfc)

mrguy

anna_Merkin-

your comment, and this story, reminds me of the scene from The Wire where wee-bay, already facing life for one murder, basically confessses to as many other murders that he can plausibly confess to in return for a cheeseburger, fries, and soda.

Anna_Merkin

That said, it's not unusual for a person who is already going to see a long term to "take a body" in exchange for some sort of reward - and I'm not just talking about food, but favors from criminal organizations looking to protect someone else in their organization. For example, if you've got an Enforcer who actually committed a murder but you need to keep that person on the street, you'll get someone who is already facing a long sentence to "take the body" in exchange for protection, favors, or money to their relatives. As usual, there's probably more to this story than the confirmation of a scintillating stereotype that creates more print ad sales and CPCs. But you smart folks at Gothamist already knew that.