Leavenworth woman convicted of helping cousin kill ex-boyfriend near Lawrence

A woman has been convicted of helping to kill her cousin’s ex-boyfriend whose body was found inside a burning home near Lawrence.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that 38-year-old Christina Towell, of Leavenworth, pleaded no contest Thursday to felony first-degree murder in the November 2017 death of 34-year-old  Joel Wales.  Other charges, including burglary and arson, were dropped as part of the plea.  Her cousin, Tria Evans, was convicted earlier of murder and other charges.

Evans and Wales had a child together and a history of domestic disputes.  Prosecutors say text messages show that Towell and Evans plotted the death for more than a month and that Towell drove Evans to the scene.

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson described the killing in a statement as “heinous and calculated.”