LEXINGTON (KY)
Herald-Leader
By Cassondra Kirby
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER
Jason Anthony Russell said he made up his mind to kill a retired Lexington priest after the man offered $5,000 to have sex with Russell's then-6-year-old son.
The request was the last straw for Russell, 28, who said he had twice before walked in on retired priest and convicted sex offender Joseph Pilger, 78, masturbating with photos of Russell's son and clippings of other children from store catalogs. Russell was living with Pilger, who had offered help after Russell got out of jail.
"I know you can't go around killing people, but I don't see where I did anything wrong," Russell said yesterday through thick glass at the Fayette County Detention Center. "I really ain't got no feelings for child molesters."
Russell pleaded guilty to murder Thursday and is awaiting sentencing. He spoke to reporters for the first time yesterday.