When a crime occurs in a town, there is an understandable need for answers. For example, the need to ensure that there is not a safety threat to other community members after five people were killed is strong. However, it is necessary to ensure that any arrests made and charges filed are supported by evidence in the case. Unfortunately, it is unclear what evidence supports the murder charges filed against two Missouri men.
The men, ages 29 and 30, were arrested in connection with the death of five men ranging in age from 37 to 54 at an apartment building that had been partially boarded up. The bodies were discovered by the father of one of the victims. Though law enforcement officials indicate that the incident was related to drug activity, they provided very few details about the incident, including what evidence directed them to the two men charged or the motive.
Despite this, it is reported that the two defendants tried to rob the men earlier at gunpoint before returning and shooting them. The man who discovered the bodies recalled telling police that they should question a man he saw at a gas station near the apartment who had been “acting a fool” when he drove by; he later realized it was that man who had been arrested. One of the men was taken into custody following a standoff while the other was taken into custody at a police station.
The charges against the men are serious, and a conviction will likely send them to jail for a significant period of time, possibly for the rest of their lives. As such, the decisions that they make in the coming weeks and months will likely have a critical impact on the rest of their lives. Without legal training, many in Missouri facing murder and other criminal charges often feel unprepared to make these decisions, prompting them to seek guidance from an experienced criminal defense professional.