Charity Blackmon sentenced to 46 years for 2021 murder

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - Charity Blackmon, who earlier this year admitted to murdering 54-year-old Merrill Rabus in March 2021, was sentenced on Friday to more than 46 years in prison.

Blackmon’s sentence was 554 months for second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. The sentence was slightly less than the 586 months that were on the table.

Blackmon pled guilty in March to killing Rabus. According to court documents, on March 26 of last year just before 4:30 p.m., witnesses saw Blackmon crash her van into Rabus on a bicycle at 13th and Oliver. Blackmon then got out of her van and shot Rabus before leaving the area.

In June, Blackmon attempted to change her plea to the second-degree murder charge. She argued that she was pressured to take the plea and didn’t have time to make a decision and that she wanted to present new evidence. A judge reviewed her arguments and denied the motion.