A judge on Tuesday sentenced 43-year-old Michael Hendricks and 33-year-old Maggie Ybarra to life sentences plus decades more for the gruesome murder of 32-year-old Kensie Aubry, whose body was recovered from a Grain Valley, Missouri, property, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.
Hendricks was sentenced to Life in Prison Without the Possibility of Parole plus 44.5 years more in prison, while Ybarra was sentenced to Life in Prison plus 56.5 years, following an emotional sentencing hearing.
Ybarra was sentenced Tuesday for Murder 2nd Degree (Life in Prison), Harassment 1st Degree (four years), Enticement of a Child (30 years), the misdemeanor of Sexual Misconduct 1st Degree (6 months), Tampering with Physical Evidence in Felony Prosecution (1 year), three counts of Tamper With A Victim in a Felony Prosecution (seven years each).
Hendricks was sentenced to Murder 1st Degree (Life in Prison without Possibility of Parole); Harassment 1st Degree (4 years), Enticement of a Child (30 years), Child Molestation 3rd Degree (10 years); Sexual Misconduct (6 months)
In Aug. 2021, a Jackson County grand jury indicted Hendricks and Ybarra on multiple charges. A Jackson County jury found them guilty in July.
The teenage girl, who was in foster care, told police that Hendricks confessed to choking Aubry and putting her body in a freezer. The girl said Hendricks showed her photos of a naked and bound woman and the chainsaw he allegedly used to chop up her body.
Ybarra was arrested in late April and jailed on sexual abuse charges related to the teenage girl, The Kansas City Star reported. Police alleged that Ybarra called Hendricks from jail and asked him to throw away evidence at her house.
According to charging documents, Ybarra attempted to get other people to buy gifts for the teenage girl and pressure her to take back what she told police.
Police said Ybarra met Hendricks after he paid her for sex sometime last year. Ybarra has described Hendricks as both her boss and her boyfriend to police. Hendricks' wife filed for divorce within days of his arrest.
Prosecutor Baker issued this statement following the sentencing: My office spent countless hours to assure justice in this case of frankly unspeakable human behavior. We sought the max under the law. I am proud of this trial team that brought these defendants to today's fitting outcome. I must again point to the bravery of the young victim who led law enforcement to these defendants. I must also praise law enforcement, notably the Grandview Police Department, for believing and acting on the word of this young victim. Justice could not have been served without her bravery and her sense of right and wrong. She ultimately delivered this just ruling.