Relatives of an 8-year-old boy and his mother, both victims of a drug gang-related murder in Connecticut, are expressing their outrage over Adrien Peeler, a man convicted of their murders, receiving clemency from former President Joe Biden. Peeler was one among nearly 2,500 individuals whose drug-related prison sentences were commuted shortly before Biden left office.
Peeler was serving a 20-year sentence in a state prison for his role in the 1999 murders of Leroy “B.J.” Brown and his mother, Karen Clarke, which not only horrified Bridgeport residents but also spurred significant improvements in the state’s witness protection programs. Prosecutors contended that Brown and Clarke were targeted to prevent the boy from serving as a witness in a separate murder trial.
Upon completing his state prison term in December 2021, Peeler began a 15-year federal prison sentence for distributing substantial quantities of crack cocaine. If he hadn’t received clemency, he would have been incarcerated until 2033, but he is now slated for release in July.
Oswald Clarke, the brother of Karen Clarke, expressed his family’s shock and upset at news of the commutation, describing their emotional turmoil. “I’m sick and tired and I’m disgusted,” he said in a phone interview. “My family is very distraught about it. It’s like we’re being traumatized all over again.”
It remains unclear how Peeler, now 48, was included in Biden’s pardons, and the former president did not provide specific reasons for commuting Peeler’s sentence. Attempts to contact previous and current White House spokespeople for clarification were unsuccessful.
In a statement regarding his clemency actions, President Biden noted that he aimed to commute the sentences of individuals convicted of nonviolent drug offenses, asserting that their prior prison terms were excessively punitive. He emphasized reform efforts to address “disproportionately long sentences,” which differ significantly from current law and guidelines.
While the federal case against Peeler focused solely on narcotics activities without reference to the earlier murders, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, indicated that there was a lapse in the handling of Peeler’s clemency. He, along with other state officials and Bridgeport’s Mayor Joe Ganim, voiced criticism regarding the decision to grant Peeler clemency. “This was a really vicious murder that changed our laws. It also highlights how we need to take a look at the pardon system to see how it can be improved,” Blumenthal stated.
State Senator Stephen Harding, the Republican minority leader, characterized the clemency as a severe affront to victims of violent crime and their families in Connecticut.
Peeler’s attorney, Michael Brown, opted not to comment extensively on the clemency, noting instead that Peeler has made significant efforts towards self-rehabilitation. “The guy has done a lot of work on himself and helped a lot of people during his incarceration,” Brown stated.
The U.S. attorney’s office in Connecticut, responsible for prosecuting Peeler’s drug case, confirmed that it was neither consulted on nor informed about his clemency in advance and declined any further comments on the matter.
On January 7, 1999, authorities maintained that Adrian Peeler, under the influence of his older brother Russell, orchestrated the violent homicides of Brown and Clarke. Investigations indicated that the killings were intended to eliminate Brown as a potential witness against Russell Peeler, who had been implicated in the murder of Clarke’s boyfriend, Rudolph Snead. Brown had previously identified Russell Peeler as the assailant in a separate shooting incident that targeted Snead.
Despite Adrian Peeler being identified as the shooter, he faced a lesser conviction for murder conspiracy, earning him a 20-year sentence along with additional charges, while Russell Peeler was convicted and granted a death sentence for masterminding the murders. However, due to legislative changes in Connecticut that abolished capital punishment, Russell was later given a life sentence without parole along with an additional lengthy sentence for a prior murder.
In response to the tragic murders, state lawmakers enacted a new witness protection program aimed at safeguarding vulnerable witnesses, particularly children. As federal authorities highlighted, Russell Peeler ran an elaborate drug distribution network in Bridgeport that involved his brother. Prior to the murders, Adrian Peeler had a criminal past that included discharging firearms in residential areas, fleeing custody, and committing assault.
Ultimately, Adrian Peeler pleaded guilty in the federal drug conspiracy case, initially sentenced to 35 years, but that was later reduced to 15 years due to changes in sentencing regulations aiming to eradicate inconsistencies in how crack versus powder cocaine offenses were punished. Oswald Clarke has conveyed deep frustration over Peeler’s impending release, stating, “We’ve tried for years and years to keep this guy off the streets. It’s a major insult, and the whole state of Connecticut should be shocked, appalled, and embarrassed.”
