It was a busy morning for court officials in Buchanan County. Between two judges, 36 criminal defendants were arraigned.

Among those arraigned Tuesday were five people charged in connection with the beating death of Jason Davies, the 38-year-old St Joe man fatally beaten earlier this month and then dumped in the Missouri River.

 

Preliminary hearings were scheduled October 17 for Martin Rilinger and Robert Jarrell on charges of 2nd Degree murder. They remain in custody under $250,000 bond each. Prosecutors say they beat Davies to death with a frying pan and a baseball bat during a fight in an apartment in the 800 block of North 13th on September 15.

Dollie Williams, accused of cleaning up the bloody apartment. She’s charged with evidence tampering, and is due back in court next week, with a preliminary hearing scheduled November 1st. She remains in custody under $40,000 bond.

Also charged with evidence tampering are Patricia Butler and Billy Wilson, for allegedly supplying the wheel barrow used to dispose of the body. Court documents assert that Butler witnessed the beating, then called Wilson, her brother, to ask for help disposing the body. Wilson allegedly suggested they dump it in the river, and offered a wheel barrow to move the body.

Butler has been freed on bond pending a preliminary hearing November 15. Wilson remains in custody, awaiting a preliminary hearing October 29.