Family of Callaway County double murder victims say killer deserves no clemency

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Surviving family members of two people killed by their cousin in New Bloomfield in 2006 say their loved ones' killer deserves no mercy.

The Kansas City Star reported last week that 60 corrections officers and staff had written to Gov. Mike Parson requesting clemency for Brian Dorsey, who was convicted in the murders of his cousin Sarah Bonnie and her husband, Ben Bonnie.

The Bonnies' family said Thursday that Dorsey doesn't deserve mercy.

"Brian was tried and convicted by a jury of his peers for two death penalties," the statement reads. "He was a close family member who was given a safe haven to get him out of a bad situation and turned this helping hand into the ultimate betrayal of a loved one."

They pointed out that a 4-year-old child was in the New Bloomfield home at the time of the killing.

"Not only did Jade lose her parents but we also lost a daughter and son, sister and brother, aunt and uncle, and a great aunt and great uncle to so many. They were loved so deeply by anyone that knew them. All of these years of pain and suffering we finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Brian will get the justice that Sarah and Ben have deserved for so long."

Dorsey is scheduled to die in April.

Full statement

Seventeen years ago, we lost Sarah and Ben by the hands of her cousin Brian Dorsey. Brian’s heinous crime was committed with a four-year-old child in the home.  This child was orphaned during a time when children should be experiencing joy that Santa is coming and instead, she was left in the home with her dead parents until they were found the next morning. Brian was tried and convicted by a jury of his peers for two death penalties.  He was a close family member who was given a safe haven to get him out of a bad situation and turned this helping hand into the ultimate betrayal of a loved one.

Sarah’s parents found both of their children murdered and no parent should ever have to experience this type of trauma.  Sarah’s parents had to get guardianship of a child that was traumatized by this ultimate betrayal by seeking counseling and helping her deal with the loss of her parents by trying to keep it child appropriate. We had a ritual every year to go to the cemetery and release balloons to the sky above so that her parents could receive them as gifts from her.  We have had to try and help keep her memories alive so she wouldn’t forget them.

We think of all the things that she has missed out on during her life without her parents. First day of school, school parties, school dances, first date, sweet sixteen, first boyfriend and high school graduation.  All of this was taken from her by a family member that proclaimed to love her.

Not only did Jade lose her parents but we also lost a daughter and son, sister and brother, aunt and uncle, and a great aunt and great uncle to so many. They were loved so deeply by anyone that knew them. All of these years of pain and suffering we finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Brian will get the justice that Sarah and Ben have deserved for so long.

We will be asking Governor Parsons to not extend any kind of clemency to Brian Dorsey for his heinous crimes that will let the justice for Sarah and Ben be carried out.