Barry Beach
In January of 1983 21-year-old,
Barry Beach confessed to the brutal beating and murder of 17-year-old
Kim Nees in 1979.
Even though Beach was convicted of her murder and sentenced to 100 years without the possibility of parole at the age of 22-years-old many of his family members and friends feel that he did not commit the murder. They feel it was a group of rival girls that killed Nees and that there is evidence to back that theory up. His conviction was bases solely on his confession. No witness testimony or forensic evidence was provided at the trial.
His defense team has even said that they feel he was coerced into confession by the authorities. However, former Montana Attorney General Mike McGrath has said that the confession given by Beach matches up with too many details of the case.
On Friday, April 4, 2008, at 8 p.m. Dateline aired a TV special about the case. His family hoped with the airing of the special that it would help their fight. His friends and family started the website Montanansforjustice.com in order to help his case. It has several different features including an anonymous tip line.
Beach currently is serving time in Deer Lodge, Montana where he already had served 25 years.
In January of 2008 the group Centurion Ministries filed a petition that stated new evidence had come to light in the case and that Beach deserved a new trial. On March 30, 2008 a judge from the district court denied Beach's request for a new trial. The attorney general reported that Beach has used all of his appeals.
Fast Facts:
- Full Name: Barry Allan Beach
- Confessed to killing Kim Nees
- Age at time of confession: 21-years-old
- Family and friends started the website Montanansforjustice.com to help his case
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