Bio

Cavona C. Flenoy was born in 1990. She was from Kansas City, Kansas.

People who worked on her case described her childhood as tumultuous. Her defense team presented evidence that she had been raped and abused as a child.

A psychologist who reviewed her case testified that the childhood abuse could have influenced her later behavior. Her lawyer argued that her difficult upbringing was a factor to consider.

Murder Story

On March 9, 2010, officers were sent to an apartment at 4911 NW Gateway Drive in Riverside, Platte County, Missouri. The resident told officers his roommate, Hassan A. Abbas, age 32, was lying on the floor covered in blood. Abbas was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead.

Police found spent .40 caliber shell casings and bullet rounds in Abbas’ bedroom. They found blood on the bed, wall, and floor. Cavona C. Flenoy admitted she shot Abbas several times in the chest, face, and side with a gun she had bought for $100 three days before the killing.

During a break in questioning, Flenoy wrote on a legal pad, "I push him down like I was about to [have sex with] him. I got the gun. And I just pulled the trigger." She also admitted leaving the apartment in Abbas’ car with his keys, wallet, and cell phone. After fleeing, she switched license plates from her car to Abbas’ and attempted to buy gas with his credit card.

Flenoy was arrested the next day. She pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, armed criminal action, stealing a motor vehicle, and stealing a credit card. Prosecutor Eric Zahnd sought a life sentence, and Flenoy’s defense presented evidence about a difficult childhood and past abuse.

On January 21, 2011, Judge Owens Lee Hull Jr. sentenced Flenoy to 25 years in prison for second-degree murder, 20 years for armed criminal action, and five years each for tampering with a motor vehicle and stealing. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently, and she must serve 85% of the sentence before being eligible for parole.

The case was investigated by the Riverside Department of Public Safety with help from the Kansas City Metro Squad. It was personally prosecuted by Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd and Assistant Prosecutor Amy Ashelford.