The last of five defendants has waived his preliminary hearing on charges of tying up an elderly Andrew county man in his home and robbing him last April. Bradley Henley of St. Joe is scheduled for Circuit Court arraignment October 28.
He is charged with nine felony counts, including robbery, burglary, felonious restraint, armed criminal action, unlawful possession of a fireram, unlawful use of a firearm, theft of a firearm and two other counts of theft.
He is also charged with misdemeanor theft and misdemeanor assault. Henley waived his preliminary hearing on Tuesday.
Henley was one of five people charged after an incident in April. According to court documents, two women came to the man’s house and asked to use his telephone, claiming their vehicle broke down while they were mushroom hunting. According to investigators, three men barged in the back door, tied up the victim, and held him at gunpoint while they stole prescription medication, tools, firearms, and other items.
Three of the defendants have pleaded guilty in the case.
*Tiffany Cruz, 35, of St. Joseph, pleaded guilty to one count of burglary in a plea agreement in which prosecutors dismissed nine other counts.. She was ordered to serve five years in prison.
*Jason Laughlin, 36, of St. Joseph, pleaded guilty to burglary, felonious restraint and misdemeanor assault. Eight counts were dismissed. Laughlin is serving a controlling sentence of seven years.
*Eileen Schussler, 20, of Wathena, Kansas, pleaded guilty to burglary and was sentenced to five years.
Richard Weyer, 22, of St. Joseph, was at large for nearly two months after the warrants were filed. He was charged with three counts of receiving stolen property, plus robbery, burglary, armed criminal action, felonious restraint, unlawful use of a weapon, misdemeanor theft and misdemeanor assault. Weyer waived his preliminary hearing last month and is due back in court Oct. 28.
Betty Jean Walker, 65, St. Joseph, MO went to be with her Lord and Savior, Friday, October 14, 2016 at LaVerna Village, Saint Joseph, MO. She was born April 13, 1951 in Albany, MO, daughter of Anna and Clarence Burton. She graduated from Albany High School and attended Platt Gard Business College. She was a homemaker, and a teacher’s aid at South Park Christian Academy for 13 years. Betty enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and family. She was a member of Hillcrest Bible Church. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Donald, Jimmy, Robert, and Wesley Burton, and a sister, Gladys Lininger. Survivors include, husband, Rev. Charles A. Walker, Jr, of the home, son, Jonathan Walker, daughters, Melody Vallejo, Jenny Trueblood, and Charity Walker, 7 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, brothers, Marion, Harold, and Charles Burton, and sisters, Barbara King, Elizabeth Butterfield, Louise Moad, and Sharon Dahl.
Ashley Nicole Ann Roberts 21, of Saint Joseph, Missouri passed away Friday October 14, 2016 at a hospital in Saint Joseph. She was born July 19, 1995 in St. Joseph, Missouri daughter of Rebecca & Gregory Roberts Sr. She worked for Meril. She loved her children and enjoyed listening to music. Ashley was preceded in death by her father, Gregory David Roberts Sr, and a brother, Greg Roberts Jr. She is survived by her mother, Rebecca Roberts of the home, 3 children, Noah, Kaden and Paisley Dilley, half brother, Ricky Wardenburg, St. Joseph, MO, paternal grandmother, Sherill Roberts of St. Joseph, MO, paternal grandfather, Harold Dawson of St. Joseph, MO, fiance, David Dilley, Jr of St. Joseph, MO, several, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Visitation for family and close friends will be from 6:00-8:00 PM, Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at the Rupp Funeral Home. Memorials are requested to the Ashley Roberts Memorial fund in care of Rupp Funeral Home.
Barbara K. (Drake) Hitchler, 52, St. Joseph, Missouri passed away Saturday, October 15, 2016.
Rosemarie Locke, 54, St. Joseph, Missouri passed away Sunday, October 16, 2016 at a local healthcare facility.
Mary L. Van Dyke, 73, Atchison, Kansas died Sunday, October 16, 2016 at her home after living nearly two years with ovarian cancer.
