Two Guilty in “Cruel, Callous” Murders of Man, Woman in Hyde Park

BOSTON, May 20, 2013—The two men charged with murdering Billie Marie Kee and Kevin Thomas, Jr., in their Hyde Park home two years ago were convicted of all charges today, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley announced.

On their first full days of deliberations after hearing lawyers’ closing arguments Friday, a Suffolk Superior Court jury convicted MICHAEL CORBIN (D.O.B. 11/10/70) and EARL FULGIAM (D.O.B. 4/14/80), both of Mattapan, of two counts of first-degree murder under all three theories of murder – deliberate premeditation, extreme atrocity or cruelty, and felony murder – as well as armed robbery and various firearm offenses.

“These verdicts reflect the cruel, callous nature of the murders,” Conley said. “The victims were brutalized in a manner far beyond what was necessary to take their lives. It was a case that deeply disturbed everyone who worked on it, to say nothing of the impact it had and will continue to have on Ms. Kee’s and Mr. Thomas’ families. In the face of all they’ve lost, I hope they can take some satisfaction that justice was done on their behalf.”

Billie Marie Kee, 24

Billie Marie Kee, 24

Jury selection in the case began on May 1 and the trial itself began on May 6. During nine days of evidence, Suffolk prosecutors introduced testimony to prove that Corbin and Fulgiam travelled to 957 Hyde Park Ave. where Kee, 24, lived with her boyfriend, Thomas, 32, at about midnight on July 26, 2011.

The evidence and testimony showed that the defendants bound the victims in the course of an armed robbery, then repeatedly stabbed and shot them. Both victims suffered multiple traumatic injuries, including injuries that claimed their lives. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

In the aftermath of the murders, investigators recovered a 9mm semiautomatic handgun at the scene. The handgun was a ballistic match to the firearm that killed Kee and Thomas. On the magazine inside were multiple fingerprints matching those of Fulgiam. Also recovered at the scene was an electrical cord used to bind Kee. It had been cut from a curling iron. On the curling iron was a fingerprint matched to Corbin. Corbin’s prints were on file from prior arrests and convictions for aggravated assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm, mayhem, and other offenses; Fulgiam’s were on file from prior arrests and convictions for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, armed assault with intent to murder, armed robbery, and other offenses.

Additionally, cell phone records showed that Corbin was in contact with Thomas in the days and hours preceding the murders, that Corbin was also in frequent contact with Fulgiam during the same time frame, and that both defendants were in the immediate vicinity of the crime scene before, during, and after Kee and Thomas were killed.

Kevin Thomas, 32

Kevin Thomas, 32

Based on a review of Thomas’ electronic communications, investigators further learned that Corbin owed a large amount of money to Thomas and that Thomas expected payment for that money. Included in those communications was an agreement by Corbin to meet Thomas on July 25, 2011.

The case was tried by Chief Trial Counsel John Pappas and Assistant District Attorney Zachary Hillman of the DA’s Appellate Division. Katherine Moran was the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate. Corbin was represented by attorney Jack Miller and Fulgiam by attorney William White. Both face a mandatory life term, which will be imposed by Judge Peter Lauriat tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 817 of Suffolk Superior Court.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.