WATCH the scene in the courtroom Friday and hear Kirkland's confession in the video player above.
CINCINNATI -- “What if this was Little Anthony we were looking for and we had somebody else sitting in that seat and we were asking them to help us? What would you want them to do?” a detective asked Anthony Kirkland.
"I'd want them to help if they could," Kirkland responded.
It was by reminding serial killer Kirkland of his love for his own son and making a connection with Esme Kenney's anguished parents that a police detective got Kirkland to confess to killing the 13-year-old and agree to lead officers to her body.
A jury heard the convicted five-time killer sniffle and even cry during his dramatic interrogation by Det. Keith Witherell, played in court Friday during Kirkland’s resentencing hearing. Court ended for the day before part of the interview - including Kirkland's full confession to all his killings - was played.
At one point, Kirkland – perhaps struggling with his conscience or his fate - appeared to ask Witherell to shoot him. Moments earlier, Kirkland had referred to his age as "a dead 40."
“Are you asking me ... I’m not going to shoot you, no,“ the detective replied.
“Unless I’ve been completely mistaken about, I know you have a heart and a soul,” Witherell told Kirkland earlier.
“I got a heart and soul,” Kirkland insisted.
“I am asking you to be a decent man and tell these parents where their daughter is," Witherell said.
"I'm asking you to go against your instincts right now. I'm asking you to remember the decency, remember what it's like when you're around your son and how much you love your son."
WATCH the full 3-hour hearing here:
Under repeated comparisons to his relationship with Anthony Jr., and Witherell's pleading on behalf of Esme's parents, Kirkland finally gave in.
“Let me take you. I’ll take you,” Kirkland finally said.
Witherell: “You can?”
Kirkland: “Yes”
Witherell: “So you’re going to be the dad I think you are?”
Kirkland: “Yes.”
Witherell: “All right. You have to give me a couple minutes to coordinate some transportation.”
Time and time again through the interview, Kirkland insisted that he never saw Esme on the previous day, March 7, 2009, when she disappeared after leaving home to jog around the Winton Hills reservoir. Although police discovered Kirkland in nearby woods later that day with Esme’s watch and iPod, Kirkland had insisted he found them on the ground.
Kirkland said he remembered that Esme's digital watch showed 3:08 when he found it. Witherell, though, told him that was impossible - Esme was still at home at that time.
Over and over, Witherell asked Kirkland to “be a dad,” pleading with him to tell where Esme’s body was to at least end her parents’ anxiety and asking him how he’d feel if Little Anthony was missing.
“What would Little Anthony want you to do?” Witherell asked.
Even after agreeing to lead police to Esme, Kirkland quipped that police should shoot him.
After Witherell asked Kirkland to point on a map where Esme was, Kirkland started to hedge, then said, "I'll help you. You've got pistols right? If I get it wrong or get stupid, pop me."
At that point, Kirkland still hadn't said he killed Esme, and Witherell started pressing Kirkland about what he had done to the 13-year-old. Kirkland said he punched her and stomped on her, but he said she was still alive.
Once Witherell started that line of questioning, any pretentions that Witherell was sympathetic with Kirkland disappeared.
Witherell: "Was it supposed to go down the way it went down?"
Kirkland, "No."
Witherell: "Well at least explain that to me. Give me something."
Kirkland: "Things kinda got out of hand, Keith .. It was an accident. My temper."
Kirkland said he "lost it" after Esme bumped into him on her jog.
"She offered me her watch. She was apologetic," Kirkland said.
Witherell: "After you just kicked the ---- out of her?"
Kirkland: "Yes."
In 2010, Kirkland was convicted of raping and killing Esme and burning her body. He did the same to four other women and girls and served 16 years for the first killing.
Kirkland was sentenced to life for two more killings, and he got the death sentence for killing Esme and 14-year-old Casonya Crawford. But Kirkland appealed the sentence and the Ohio Supreme Court ordered a hearing.
In chronological order, here are courtroom tweets from WCPO’s Jay Warren that tell how the interview progressed to the point when Friday's hearing ended.
Kirkland re-sentencing: Jury listening, again, to recorded interview. Det. Keith Witherell explained to jury he used a non confrontational approach. Kirkland gives a rambling account of why he was near scene of Esme Kenney's death. He will eventually confess. @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
Kirkland interview shifts to the estranged mother of his son. He claimed to have wanted a role in his son's life. Kirkland expresses regret...Witherell brings it back to Kenney. Witherell asks, "Did you know there was a report of a missing child near the reservoir?" @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
Witherell begins to press Kirkland for specifics on Kenney's disappearance. Uses previous emotion about his son and ex-girlfriend to move in on what Kirkland "knew" about Kenney. @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
"You are in possession of a couple of items that belonged to these parent's baby. You had tears earlier about not being able to see my child. I've got a mother and a father that are asking me to help find their child." said Witherell "You have her watch and radio." @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
"The one thing we can do is look at what happened and accept responsibility for it. We can go back to a mother and father and ask them for forgiveness. This is about doing the right thing." Kirkland asks, "You want to know where the child is?" @WCPO Sticks to lie again.
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
Witherell, "Anthony are you going to help me here? This mother and father are trying to find their baby girl." "And I'm the suspect," Kirkland asks. Witherell doesn't respond. Witherell appeals to Kirkland to try to understand what Kenney's parents would be thinking. @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
"I'm asking you to go ask you to go against your instincts are right now. I'm asking you to remember the decency remember what it's like when you're around your son and how much you love your son." @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
"I'm asking you to go ask you to go against your instincts are right now. I'm asking you to remember the decency remember what it's like when you're around your son and how much you love your son." @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
Court breaks. @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
Court breaks. @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
Back in session: "You have people who can't find find their daughter, you have her items," states Witherell. Begins to implore Kirkland to tell truth. "I'm asking for your help. I need your help. I don't want a child to lay up somewhere where they become food for animals." @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
"What if this was your son we were looking for?" asks Witherell. "I would want people to help," answers Kirkland. "There is nothing that will cleanse your heart and soul other than to help," urges Witherell. @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
"Be a dad," whispers Witherell. "What would your son Anthony want you to do? Would he be saying daddy tell the truth help the policeman out? Is he going to look back at you and want you to do the right thing? God wants you to help." @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
"Make your son proud that you're his father by telling the truth," said Witherell. "I thought you said she wasn't a child," asks Kirkland. "Anthony look at me we know you can help. This girl needs to be found." @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
"We know you didn't just find her stuff in the grass and you know it. How old are you?" asks Witherell. "A dead 40," responds Kirkland. @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
"Let me take you. I'lll take you," said Kirkland. "Can you show us where she's at?" asks Witherell. "Yes," answered Kirkland. @WCPO Officers take a break get Kirkland some water. The first chapter in a masterful interrogation concludes. @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
Witherell tells Kirkland that police are trying to coordinate a trip back to the reservoir where he can show police where Esme Kenney is buried. @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
Witherell is trying to get Kirkland to point on a map where Kenney's body is located. Kirkland starts to hedge but then says, "I'll help you. You've got pistols right? If I get wrong or get stupid pop me." @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
Kirkland cools off during interview. Begins rambling about estranged girlfriend and inability to see son. Witherell lets him continue. "I won't be the father y'all are saying," says Kirkland, "It's over." Witherell jumps back in on helping the Kenney's find their daughter. @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
"Is this the person we're going to go find?" as Witherell presumably shows a photo of Esme Kenney to Kirkland. "That's the person we're looking for," said Kirkland. Kirkland won't point on a map to where Kenney is. Witherell gets angry presses Kirkland to cooperate. @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
"Was it supposed to go down the way it went down?" asks Witherell. Kirkland, "No." "Well at least explain that to me. Give me something." "Things kinda got out of hand, Keith," responds Kirkland. @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
"It was an accident...my temper," murmurs Kirkland. "What about your temper?" Asks Witherell. "Where did you meet her?" "Up here Kirkland points on a map. On the front of the reservoir." "What was she doing?" "She was running," answered Kirkland. @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
Kirkland begins to describe what Esme Kenney was wearing. Explains running into Kenney. Says he dropped the beer he was holding. "My anger," murmurs Kirkland. "What happened?" asks Witherell. @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
"She offered me her watch," said Kirkland. "She was apologetic." "I saw my son's mother." "What did you do when you saw your son's mother?" "I lost it." "Does that mean you hurt her?" @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
"Did you hurt her? We've got to know." (Kirkland doesn't speak perhaps nods head) "I know I punched her. I punched her a couple of times." "Where did you punch her? Did you knock her out?" "I think so. Can I take you to where she is." Kirkland stalls. @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
"What happened after you knocked her out?" asks Witherell. "She's hurt," responds Kirkland. "I know I kicked her and punched her in the stomach. Stomped her." (long pause...Kirkland begins to cry) @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
"She didn't really do anything," said Kirkland of Kenney. "I lost it." "Where did you take her? Is she alive or is she dead?" "The child should be alive, Keith," lies Kirkland. @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
During the interview Witherell learns Kenney has been found and she is dead. "Oh!!" reacts Kirkland. "This is one of those things where you know what you did. You're almost there in terms of the explanation," prompts Witherell. @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
During the interview Witherell learns Kenney has been found and she is dead. "Oh!!" reacts Kirkland. "This is one of those things where you know what you did. You're almost there in terms of the explanation," prompts Witherell. @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
"She kept apologizing to me," said Kirkland. "After you just kicked the ---- out of her?" asks Witherell incredulously. "Yes." responds Kirkland. @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
Re-sentencing breaking for the weekend. @WCPO
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) July 27, 2018
