The man who murdered 81-year-old Philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, the wife of music executive Clarence Avant, was sentenced Tuesday to 190 years to life in prison.
Aariel Maynor, 30, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and other charges in Los Angeles Superior Court last month after he confessed to using an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle to shoot Avant in the couple’s Beverly Hills home in December 2021. He also tried to kill a security guard several times but didn’t wound him, Sis2Sis reported.
The same evening, police responded to another burglary Maynor had committed in the Hollywood Hills on Graciosa Drive. He was arrested after he accidentally shot himself in the foot.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón issued a statement on Tuesday following the 30-year-old’s sentencing.
“Today marks the end of a tragic case that rocked our community. Because of a completely senseless act, Los Angeles lost Jacqueline Avant, a community leader and philanthropist. Her murder sent shockwaves through our community, prompting fear, concern and a tremendous sense of loss,” Gascón said in the release. “Given the sentence today, Mr. Maynor will be ineligible for early parole and will spend the rest of his life in prison.”
Gascón added: “This sentence and conclusion of this case also prevents a painful and lengthy process of trial for the Avant family, a process that can be traumatizing. There was never any doubt that we were going to pursue this case rigorously. This case shocks us all. Our office has, and will continue to, seek to hold accountable those who cause grievous harm in our communities.”
Maynor pleaded guilty to “one count each of first-degree murder, attempted murder and possession of a firearm by a felon” and “two counts of first-degree residential burglary with person present” and confessed to using an assault long barrel pistol, the release said.
According to prosecutors, Maynor searched for information regarding the couple’s address one day before the killing. He was out of prison and on parole at the time of the incident, Los Angeles Times reported.
Maynor was caught bragging about the shooting to an unidentified woman on a jail phone, showing no remorse for his actions.
“You think my mama’s seen that?” he asked.
“I don’t know, but that’s not funny,” the woman said. “Why are you laughin’? That’s somebody’s life. That’s somebody’s family member.”
Avant was known for donating money to several charities that helped low-income neighborhoods such as Watts and South Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Clarence, 91, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last year, per the Hollywood Reporter.
The Avants were married for 54 years and had two children, Alexander Du Bois Avant and Nicole Avant.
Nicole, a film producer and former U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas married to Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, spoke highly of her mother in an interview with People Magazine in February.
“A lot of grit and gratitude and grace — those are the adjectives for Jacquie,” she said.
She added: “But I think what people are now really understanding is what a natural philanthropist she was,” Nicole continued. “She was a philanthropist before it became popular to become a philanthropist and say you were one.”
“Whether it was donating books, or bicycles, or bringing speakers, or whatever it was, my mom was always reaching out to help other people,” Nicole said. “And she gave me that gift.”
