Lancaster Teen Powerless to Stop Slayings, Psychologist Says

The Lancaster teenager on trial for the 1996 slayings of three members of an Arizona family feared for her own safety and was powerless to stop the attacks, a psychologist testified Tuesday.

“Her fear was pretty intense at that point and it was my opinion she was in more of a hostage situation,” said Dr. Cheryl Karp of Tucson, who was called to testify by the defense lawyer for Kimberly Lane, 16.

Karp said Lane, who was 14 at the time of the slayings, possessed the intelligence and maturity of a 10-year-old. Numerous tests performed on Lane last year revealed “an adolescent who was very immature, very passive dependent,” Karp said.

The testimony was another attempt by the defense to bolster its position that Lane was threatened by co-defendants Frank Anderson, 50, of Lancaster, and Robert “Bobby” Poyson, 21, of Golden Valley, Ariz.

Lane testified earlier in the trial that she thought she was going to be killed by the two men. She denied involvement in the triple homicide.

At previous trials, Anderson and Poyson were convicted of killing Robert Delahunt, 15; his mother, Leta Kagen, 37, and Kagen’s boyfriend, Roland Wear, 50.

Lane is charged with three counts of first-degree murder, conspiracy and armed robbery. If convicted, she could spend the rest of her life in prison.

Jury deliberations may begin today. Attorneys are scheduled to present closing arguments this morning.

The defense maintains Lane ran away from a neglectful and abusive home environment in Lancaster with Anderson, a trailer park neighbor. The youth initially considered Anderson a friend and father figure, but they began a relationship.

Lane traveled to Nevada with Anderson where a stranger led them to the trailer home of Kagen, a woman with a reputation for providing for the needy.

Poyson had been living there since February and authorities allege he, Anderson and Lane hatched a plot to kill their hosts, steal Wear’s truck and drive to Chicago.