Man sentenced to life in prison for deaths of 6 firefighters will soon walk free

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV/Gray News) - A man in Missouri serving life in connection with the deaths of six Kansas City firefighters will soon be getting released from prison.

The United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri vacated Richard R. Brown’s life sentence. The court resentenced Brown to time served.

Brown was convicted in 1997 in connection with a 1988 highway construction site fire.

Kansas City firefighters responded to the emergency. Trailers started exploding as crews battled the flames, killing six firefighters instantly in the fiery explosions.

Investigators determined the cause of the fire was arson. Brown and four other people were eventually convicted in the case.

Brown has maintained his innocence over the past 30 years and has served nearly three decades in federal prison.

On Friday, the court found that Brown’s age at the time of the fire, along with his rehabilitation while in prison, justified his release.

The court said it determined the following when making the decision:

• His educational and rehabilitative accomplishments include earning his GED and completing numerous courses.
• A clean disciplinary record for more than 10 years.
• Positive leadership and work history while incarcerated.
• Sentencing disparities when compared to similarly situated co-defendants.

In weighing the statutory sentencing factors, the court also said it determined that nearly 29 years served reflects the seriousness of the offense while also recognizing Brown’s demonstrated rehabilitation and reduced risk to public safety.

Brown will serve five years of supervised release after he leaves prison. Authorities say he remains responsible for restitution to the Kansas City, Missouri, Fire Department, which was part of his sentence.