Suspect In Logan County Burned Body Case Enters Plea

Brandy Kathryn Hanson had nothing to say as she was led into an Oklahoma county courtroom to enter her plea. She is one of eight people accused in the gruesome killing of Shawn Masters, who's burned and beaten body was found dumped in a Logan County field in January of last year.

Court papers state Hanson admitted to witnessing two men beat Masters at a southwest OKC home, and then saw them throw him into a trash can. But Hanson claimed he was still alive when it happened.

Hanson also admits she placed zip ties around Master's wrists and ankles at the home. Court papers state she then watched as her friend Angel Munoz stabbed Masters several times with a knife while he was in that trash can.

Court papers state she, Munoz and Johnny Snow then drove the trashcan with the body to Logan County. Hansen also admitted to setting fire to the trashcan when they dumped Master's body in a field south of Highway 33.

During her time in front of the judge, Hanson began to tear up as she entered her guilty plea to second-degree murder. She was originally charged with first-degree murder.

8/3/2014 Related Story: Disturbing New Details Emerge In Logan County Burned Body Case

Master's mother and father watched from the jury box as Hanson entered her plea. She faced a minimum of 10 years to a maximum of life in prison.  She will have to serve 85 percent of her sentence. She has no prior felonies in Oklahoma, but in court she did admitted she spent time in prison for a felony in Nevada.

Hanson waived her right to a jury trial by entering this plea deal.

During the hearing, the judge sentenced her to 7 years in prison for desecrating a body, and 10 years for the 2nd degree murder charge, which will be served concurrently. Hanson was also given credit for time served.  She has been ordered to testify in the trials of the other defendants charged in this case.

During the witness impact statements, the DA handling the case spoke on behalf of the Masters family- saying they approved of the plea deal and were thankful for Hanson's cooperation and confession.

"She's been distraught the whole time," said Michael Trevino, who is Hanson's defense attorney.

Trevino says Hanson has cooperated with this case since the beginning, and wanted to make sure none of the others involved in the murder would go free. He says the reason she took part in the gruesome murder is because she was afraid they would kill her if she didn't.

"She was very fond of the victim and says he didn't deserve anything that happened to him," said Trevino.

Shawn Masters' mother and father were in the courtroom when Hanson went before the judge.

Though she was originally facing a first degree murder charge, she agreed to plead guilty to a second degree murder charge instead. And Masters' parents were ok with that.

"She did what she did because she was afraid," said Donald Masters, Shawn's father.

But despite that the family, says they can never forgive Hanson or the others for what they did to Shawn.

"They took my son. our son, my baby," said Sandra Masters, Shawn's mom. "If it was up to me they'd be in there forever, so they couldn't hurt anyone else."