SPOKANE, Wash. – It’s been 37 years since 19-year-old Kipper “Kip” McKenna was murdered after a party in Spokane, and Thursday, the man charged with and convicted of committing the murder, Daniel Edwards, is scheduled to be resentenced.
In July of 1987, Edwards had attended a “kegger,” where Kip and his girlfriend were also in attendance.
Edwards asked the girlfriend for a ride to a relative’s home. Kip and the girlfriend agreed.
During the trip, Edwards shot and killed Kip.
“…he removed the revolver from his backpack and shot Kip in the head,” Bill McKenna, Kip’s father, said.
Edwards proceeded to rape the girlfriend.
At this time, Edwards was free on his own recognizance pending arraignment on other charges, including the rape of a teenage girl.
“To me, he’s an animal. He knew what he was doing. He killed my son and took him out so I couldn’t enjoy him the rest of my [life]. I don’t know if he would’ve been married by now. And how many kids he might’ve had. And I missed that,” McKenna said.
Edwards was charged with first degree aggravated murder and first degree rape. He avoided a trial by pleading guilty and confessing to the charges.
Despite being pleased that Edwards would spend his life in prison, without the possibility of parole, the McKenna family was forever changed by the murder.
“It effected my family deeply. My middle son was hurt more about this than anybody else. Because he and Kip were close. And unfortunately, it got to the point where he took his life,” McKenna said.
Edwards was 20-years-old at the time of the murder. However, under changes to Washington State law implemented this decade, the State prohibits life sentences for those under the age of 21.
This allowed Edwards to seek a resentencing hearing last year.
Edwards argued in the motion his life-in prison sentence would be unconstitutional under the Washington State Supreme Court ruling that concluded that a court cannot impose a life sentence on a “youthful offender.”
The state’s memorandum said Edwards had had infractions and violations as recent as 2022.
Edward’s daughter shared documents she claimed to have obtained via public records request that show multiple violations over the years, including committing sexual harassment against a staff member, visitor or community member.
NonStop Local reached out to the Washington State Department of Corrections requesting an interview with Edwards, but that is still pending.
NonStop Local also contacted the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office to seek more information about Thursday’s resentencing hearing, but did not hear back.
McKenna told NonStop Local his biggest fear is that somehow Edwards could be released.
“He doesn’t need to be on the streets anymore. He does not need to be in the community. He committed that crime, he knew what he was doing. He was given that time. And he needs to stay there. No ‘ifs,’ ‘ands’ or ‘buts,’ as far as I’m concerned,” McKenna said.
Thursday’s resentencing is scheduled at 9 a.m.
