Two get 40 years to life in murders over tire rims

Angela Soo

Tuesday, June 12, 2001 | 10:22 a.m.

Two people are dead, and two may go to prison for the rest of their lives. All for a set of tire rims.

"I just can't get over how dumb this is -- over rims," District Court Judge Lee Gates said Monday to the two defendants who waited to be sentenced for murder. "Is your life worth a pair of rims?"

Jason Alexander Taylor, 21, and Sammy Charles McCowan, 31, received prison sentences of 40 years to life for the 1996 killing of John Christopher Person, 26, and his girlfriend, Lori Anne Montori, 31.

The pair were convicted of two counts each of first-degree murder, burglary, second-degree kidnapping and conspiracy to commit murder. All charges were committed with a deadly weapon.

Chief Deputy District Attorney David Wall said authorities believe the pair drove to Person's home in October 1996 to retrieve tire rims they said Person stole from the defendant.

When they arrived, a fight broke out, and Person grabbed Taylor, held him at knifepoint and ordered McCowan to leave.

Taylor reached around, shot Person to death, then left, Wall said. Once outside, McCowan ordered Taylor to go back inside to kill Montori, who was phoning 911.

Uncontrollable sobs filled the courtroom when Person's mother, Garnetta Person, expressed her pain to the judge.

"How does a mother tell someone how the death of her only living son has affected her?" Garnetta Person said. "Can one live with their soul pulled from their being? Yes, but with never-ending pain."

She urged the judge to impose a death sentence for the two men, saying that God's law on retribution has not changed: "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."

"There is now no one there to call me mom the way he did," she said.

The father, Fred Person, however, was more forgiving toward the younger defendant, who was 16 when the murders occurred.

"This was a child who was put in that situation that changed the rest of his life," Fred Person said. "I have no animosity toward the defendant's family -- the Taylors."

Christopher Person's uncle, Kevin Hurlic, also came to say a few words before the judge sentenced the defendants.

"Heaven will be the only time I'll see him again," Hurlic said. "I will have to wait until my death to see his face again."

The only reason Taylor gave for his actions was that his "mind was unfocused" that day. He also made a last attempt to divert part of the blame onto Person, saying that Person initially stole from McCowan.

Although he was not especially sorry for Person's death, Taylor admitted that Montori was truly a victim, and that he felt remorse over her involvement.

McCowan's last words were cut short when he started crying, and was no longer coherent.

"I'm sorry for all the stuff that happened..." said McCowan, who now suffers from multiple sclerosis.

Once the defendants finished their statements, Gates unleashed his wrath, then the 40-year to life sentence.

"We don't care if you're 16," Gates told Taylor. "If you're big enough to pull the trigger, you're big enough to suffer the consequences. You show no remorse. I know what happened. Two people are dead."

And any chances of McCowan getting a lighter sentence because of his illness won't happen, Gates said.

Montori's cousin, Kathy Barnes was in the courtroom but did not speak. However, Person brought a music box that belonged to the woman in order to represent her presence.

"This belonged to Lori," Person said.

Person allowed the music to play, which was a song from "Phantom of the Opera." The haunting melody resonated the courtroom as she walked away, carrying the "Music of the Night" with her.