Man Convicted of Murder Released from Prison Following Clemency

A man implicated in the brutal 1999 murders of an 8-year-old boy and his mother has been released after clemency was granted by the outgoing President.

Adrian Peeler, aged 49, was involved in the conspiracy that led to the shooting death of Leroy “B.J.” Brown and Karen Clarke in their Bridgeport apartment. Originally sentenced to 60 years for his role, Peeler was released after serving his state sentence in January 2022 and receiving federal clemency for separate drug charges, which could have kept him behind bars until 2033.

Mugshot of Adrian Peeler — Adrian Peeler, now 49, was convicted for his involvement in the murders intended to prevent his brother, a drug dealer, from testifying against him.

The murders were committed to thwart potential testimony against Peeler’s brother, Russell Peeler Jr., who was on trial for killing Karen Clarke’s boyfriend. Leroy was present in the vehicle during a 1997 drive-by shooting, which his mother intended to testify about during her trial.

Both brothers faced charges of capital felony and murder, but Adrian was convicted only of conspiracy to commit murder.

Photo of Karen Clarke — Karen Clarke was shot in her bedroom as she tried to call for help after the attack on her son.

The crime prompted the creation of Connecticut’s own witness protection program. The family expressed outrage over Peeler’s release, especially since Leroy and Karen were set to testify against his brother. Karen was killed as she attempted to summon help, and Leroy was shot at the top of the stairs.

Relatives of the victims have voiced their disbelief and frustration. Karen’s brother, Oswald Clarke, condemned the decision, saying, “We’ve been blindsided. Where is the justice for my family?”

Peeler had previously sought to reduce his sentence under an early version of the First Step Act but was criticized for not showing remorse. During a 2021 court hearing, he accepted responsibility but failed to express regret or apologize to the victims’ families, leading the judge to emphasize his lack of remorse.