Who Was Bianca Devins?
Bianca Michelle Devins was an American teenager from Utica, New York, (October 2, 2001 – July 14, 2019). She was murdered by a male acquaintance, Brandon Andrew Clark, on July 14, 2019. Following a botched suicide attempt, Clark was charged with second-degree murder. He subsequently pleaded guilty to the murder and was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
The Tale In Full
Police reports stated that Devins and Clark were in an intimate relationship, although the two perceived the relationship differently. Devins’ sister called Clark a close family friend, though Devins said in a chat log that she did not remember his name and had to “search it up” in their Discord chat history before meeting, whereas others feared he was exploitative. The murder allegedly took place after Clark witnessed Devins kissing another man.
Devins’ murder received considerable attention from the press and social media. Initial reports were marred by misinformation. Photos of Devins’ corpse were taken by Clark and shared widely online, sparking both mockery and sympathy. Social media companies’ responses were subject to criticism, leading to the introduction of legislation. Commentators have discussed the unique nature of the crime and its relation to the structure of social media.
Conclusion
Clark pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder on July 29, 2019. He was later charged with promoting prison contraband, after corrections officers found a shiv-constructed out of a sharpened toothbrush in his cell. According to Kim, he composed a letter to a friend around this time which saw him “bragging” and noting how it felt to kill. This letter, reportedly, explained his motive: “he couldn’t handle the thought of her walking out of his life”.
On February 10, 2020, before his trial, Clark changed his plea to guilty. His sentencing was scheduled for April 7, but was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. On June 2, he filed a notice to withdraw his guilty plea, claiming his lawyer had failed him. This was denied, as he had admitted to his guilt. His hearing took place on September 30, and a written decision was drawn up on October 30. On March 16, 2021, Clark was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. He has formally expressed remorse for his actions.
