Convicted Quintuple Murderer to Pay Child Support While Incarcerated

By Sarah Harper

Published on July 24, 2007

Brothers was incarcerated after being convicted of murdering his wife, their three children, and his mother-in-law. He retained a private attorney using $100,000 of the $150,000 he received by selling his assets while awaiting trial.

Prior to being incarcerated, Brothers was required to pay $700 a month in child support – based on his income as a vice principal - for Margaret Kern-Brothers, his daughter from a previous relationship,. In court, he argued that his right to defend himself took precedence over his obligation to pay child support. He believed that, since he used all his money to pay his legal expenses, he should not have to provide child support.

However, the Court of Appeals ordered Brothers to pay as child support a portion of the interest he would have been collecting from the $150,000 he had before hiring an attorney. He must also pay up front all the child support owed to Margaret’s mother, Shann Kern. Brothers’ child support bills total more than $17,000, according to the Court of Appeals.

Brothers was arrested in 2004 and later convicted of the 2003 murder of his wife, Joanie Harper; their three children, Marques, Lyndsey, and Marshall; and his mother-in-law, Earnestine.

A jury gave him the death penalty in May. His sentencing is scheduled for September.

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