Angela Mason was originally charged in May with involuntary manslaughter, for the fatal shooting of her husband Jeffery Mason at the couple’s home on March 3. Earlier this month, the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed an amended complaint charging Mason with second-degree murder, or in the alternative voluntary manslaughter or involuntary manslaughter.
On Thursday, a new complaint was filed, adding one count of armed criminal action to the other three.
Associate Judge Keith Marquart conducted a rare preliminary hearing in the case Thursday. Prosecuting Attorney Dwight Scroggins questioned a police detective and a crime scene investigator, who testified about their investigation into the shooting and the autopsy. Both said that Mason asserted the shooting happened accidentally, during an argument over her husband’s drinking.
But a polygraph examiner and a prison inmate also testified about incriminating comments allegedly made by the defendant. Allen Jenerich, the polygraph examiner, said that after he finished conducting a lie-detector test the defendant said she had deliberately pulled the trigger.
Scroggins also called an inmate from the Western Reception, Diagnostic and Corrections Center, where both the defendant and the victim worked. The inmate said he had a conversation with Mason about extra duties he’d been assigned by Mason’s husband. Inmate Odell Carter testified that Mason said he “wouldn’t have to worry about him anymore,” that “she would take care of him.” Later on, Carter read about the homicide and wrote a letter to the court saying that the killing was a murder.
Judge Marquart ruled there was sufficient probable cause in the case to certify it for Circuit Court. Mason is scheduled for arraignment on June 29 at 8:30 am. She remains free on $25,000 bond.