A mother on Friday said the sentencing of a 19-year-old Lawrence man who murdered her son offered her no closure.
Cir Allen Keith Glover, of Lawrence, was convicted on July 7 for the death of Isaiah Neal, 17. Glover shot Isaiah on June 13, 2024 outside of a townhome Isaiah shared with his mother and sister in the 2400 block of Alabama Street.
“The DA’s office thought 10 years was enough for my son being shot eight times, a bullet coming out his face and him fighting for his life for almost two hours,” Natasha Neal, Isaiah’s mother, said.
“My son was not DOA (dead on arrival). It wasn’t an instant death. My son felt all that pain,” she said. “He kept fighting for all that time because he found out that Monday that he had a baby on the way.”
Glover was originally charged with second-degree murder, but the charge was then upgraded to first-degree murder after testimony presented during a preliminary hearing last fall.
Just before his jury trial was set to begin, Glover accepted a plea deal for a lesser conviction and did not go to trial. He pleaded no contest to second-degree murder.
“I don’t feel like I have the energy to beg the judge, your honor, to see that 10 years is a slap in the face,” Natasha said. “It is sending the message out to this community that it’s OK to murder. I know people who got more time for drugs than what this young man is facing for murdering my son, executing him.”
Defense attorney Michael Clarke submitted a motion for durational departure, requesting a lesser sentence. Prosecutor Ricardo Leal did not oppose the motion.
Douglas County District Judge Stacey Donovan on Friday sentenced Glover to 120 months, or 10 years, in the Kansas Department of Corrections and 36 months of parole thereafter. He will be required to register as a violent offender for 15 years.
She said she granted the defense’s motion because Glover was working on his schooling, exhibited good behavior while in custody and had accepted responsibility for his impact on Isaiah’s family. She also said she’d received several letters from community members and Glover’s loved ones saying they will support his rehabilitation.
“For you to honor Isaiah’s life, the best thing you can do is become rehabilitated, to not come back before the court again,” Donovan told Glover.
Donovan also said avoiding a trial saved judicial resources. As Donovan explained, Natasha, sitting in the courtroom, said aloud, “Save money?” Donovan continued, and when Natasha repeated herself, Donovan said money is not a consideration of the court.
Natasha then gave Isaiah Neal Jr. — Isaiah’s infant son whom she was holding during the hearing — to another family member and said a few more words as she left the courtroom.
Many were tearful throughout the sentencing. There were more than 20 of Isaiah’s supporters present, and most also exited the courtroom a few minutes after Natasha did, while the hearing was still wrapping up.
In addition to Natasha, Iona Wakole gave a statement about losing Isaiah. She said he was there for her in the wake of the murder of her younger sister, Brianna “Bri” Higgins, who was also a close friend of Isaiah’s.
Bri was shot and killed in January 2024, and an Olathe teen was convicted of reckless murder and given the maximum juvenile sentence. Wakole was one of several loved ones of Bri who gave a statement at the June 2024 sentencing hearing.
“And then when we lost Isaiah, too, that hurt our family all over again, and I made myself a promise that I’d always be there for his sisters, his mama and baby Zay, like he was there for me and Mom,” Wakole said.
Glover spoke at his sentencing Friday and told Isaiah’s family and friends that he is “genuinely sorry” and takes accountability for all their pain.
According to testimony during the preliminary hearing, Glover and Isaiah had been friends since childhood, but an argument led to a rift in the friendship. (Read more about the evidence in this article.)
Part of Natasha’s statement Friday was directed at Glover, who she said she had previously welcomed into her home.
She expressed hurt that a Black man would be added to the prison system. As a member of Sisters With A Purpose, she was the activist behind a massive protest in downtown Lawrence against racism in the criminal legal system in 2020. She had also advocated for the dismissal of cases against Rontarus Washington Jr. and Albert Wilson.
“I just wish whatever pressure was on you, you just would have just kept going,” Natasha told Glover. “I pray one day you will call me. I’m telling you: you call me. Add me to your list and just tell me everything that happened to my baby.”
Note: This article has been corrected from a previous version.
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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