Craigslist Murder Suspect Talks About Incident In Jailhouse Calls

Jailhouse telephone conversations between accused murder-robbery suspect Kiyoshi Higashi and his family were obtained by our partner, The News Tribune.

The newspaper filed a public disclosure requesting 25 calls Higashi made from jail between May 8 and May 18. They received more than five hours of taped conversations.

In the calls, Higashi talks about prison, getting married while behind bars and the robbery and killing an Edgewood father, Jim Sanders. He also denies allegations that he is the man who pulled the trigger.

AUDIO: Excerpts Of Higashi's Calls To Home WATCH IT: Higashi Talks About Prison, Getting Married

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In recorded conversations, Higashi’s family members press him to admit he fired the shot that killed Sanders. Higashi, 22, repeatedly admits being at the Sanders home on the night of April 28 to rob the family after they placed an ad on Craigslist to sell a ring, according to the calls.

Family: Why did you do it?

Higashi: Why did I go do it, what?

Family: Yeah.

Higashi: Why did I go to the house?

Family: And everything else.

Higashi: I don't know. It wasn't, we really didn't like plan for anything to happen you know.

Higashi talks at length about being on anti-depressants, life in jail and his resignation at facing the rest of his days in prison for Sanders’ death.

“I've got to accept the fact I'm never going to get out of jail,” Higashi said.

Some family members seem unconvinced at Higashi's denials over killing Sanders -- repeatedly asking him about news reports that name his as the shooter.

Family: Why are they saying you're the shooter though? Why do you think?

Higashi: I don't know. That's what the police told me, too. It doesn't even matter who they charge as the shooter. It really doesn't matter, cause everybody's getting charged with the same (expletive).

The News Tribune reports that many of the calls lasted for the maximum 20 minutes allowed and that others lasted less than 30 seconds when an answering machine picked up.

Higashi is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree burglary and two counts each of first-degree robbery and second-degree assault.

Clabon Berniard, 23, and Joshua Nathan Reese, 21, face identical charges. Amanda Knight, 22, is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree robbery and two counts of first-degree assault.

They’ve all pleaded not guilty and remain in jail, pending trial.

Higashi’s girlfriend, 18-year-old Jenna Ford, is charged with three counts of first-degree rendering criminal assistance. Police said she helped Higashi and his friends after the robbery. She has pleaded not guilty and remains jailed.

Read more about the phone calls and what Higashi says at The News Tribune.