A photo of victim Kenneth Banks in 2008. His family wrote “he was never the person to have one inch of negativity inside of him, just the sweetest, most loving person ever and for this to happen to him hurts more than anything.” (Photo courtesy GoFundMe)  

A man who killed his boyfriend in a Downtown motel room after predicting he would do so in a recorded phone call from jail has been sentenced to 40 years to life in state prison.

Kenneth Banks, 32, was found dead in a Downtown motel room on June 9, 2021 after he was beaten to death by his boyfriend, Ryan Edward Breeland, 43. Banks was described by his family as a wonderful person who was taken too soon.

“Ken was so naive, so innocent, we worried someone would take advantage of him and that’s what Ryan Breeland did,” said Kimberli Coons-Banks, a niece, said at the sentencing. “Kenneth was used to being picked on by others. The man he loved would kill him six months later. Ryan Breeland was a monster.”

The family was able to address Breeland directly at the sentencing.

“You know how loving Kenneth was. You continued to beat the life out of him!” said Coons-Banks, staring at Breeland. “You’re not deserving of love! He gave us a life sentence and he deserves that sentence.”

“I can’t believe this happened to my dear, sweet brother,” said Kendra Banks, whose letter was read by Deputy District Attorney Taren Brast.

“You know my brother would not defend himself. You took advantage of a person would not hurt a fly,” said Kendra Banks’ letter. “You never loved him and that’s what breaks my heart because that’s what Kenneth wanted.”

Breeland stared straight ahead and never made eye contact with anyone while behind a glass jail unit.

“Nothing this court can do can bring Kenneth Banks back or give his family closure,” said San Diego Superior Court Judge Rachel Cano on May 17.

The victim’s family members said they buried him in a white casket adorned with white flowers.

“In our eyes, Kenneth was an angel,” said Coons-Banks.

They said Banks was a member of a Baptist Church in Encanto and was a gentle soul. The family wrote on GoFundMe that Banks was grieving his nana’s death when he moved out on his own for the first time. He was excited about the future after he had sacrificed years caregiving for his aging grandparents.

The family’s remarks partly explain why Banks seemed so passive in the wake of Breeland’s direct threats to him over the phone in a recorded call from jail after Breeland was arrested for domestic violence after injuring Banks.

Banks told him he wanted to break up with Breeland, and Breeland said the “the only way out is the graveyard.” Breeland specifically said he would kill him once he got out, but Banks didn’t seem to react in the recording that was played in court.

Breeland pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, committing domestic violence, and assault with a deadly weapon. He previously had a felony assault charge which doubled the sentence.

He was ordered to pay $7,500 in restitution for Banks’ funeral expenses and ordered to pay $959 to Banks’ sister. He was fined $1,710.

Breeland, wearing blue jail clothes, declined to give a statement in court and also to the probation report. His lawyer also declined to make a statement.

He was given credit for serving 764 days in jail. It is possible Breeland could be paroled when he is in his 80s.

“You tortured my brother. I hope to get some type of closure,” Banks’ sister said in her letter to Breeland read before the court. “I hope you get what you deserve behind bars.”