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Fair ~ River stage: 33.86 Rising Saturday, November 21, 2009 |
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Third suspect in Missouri Avenue killings arrested; prosecutor says all involved now in custodyFriday, October 30, 2009Click here to download the probable cause statement in the Samuel Ray Hughes case With three suspects in custody in the Tuesday shooting deaths of a woman, her 15-year-old son and her unborn child, Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle said he thinks everyone involved in the crime has been arrested. On Thursday, Swingle filed three counts of second-degree murder against Samuel Ray Hughes, 25, 326 S. Lorimier St., accusing him of taking part in a burglary that was part of the plan to kill John Lawrence in the pre-dawn hours at his home at 1224 N. Missouri Ave. Hughes is also accused of a single count of first-degree burglary.
Ryan T. Patterson. 28, is accused of firing the fatal shots and was arrested Wednesday on three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action and a single count of burglary. Michelle R. Lawrence, 39, is the estranged wife of John Lawrence and is accused of a single count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Lawrence allegedly initiated a plot to kill her husband and burn the house they owned jointly to obtain a $350,000 insurance payout before their divorce was final. Michelle Lawrence and Ryan Patterson lived together at 921 Hackberry St, Apt. 111. Patterson faces a possible death sentence if convicted. Hughes could be sentenced to life in prison, and Michelle Lawrence could be put in prison for five to 15 years. Patterson's bond has been set at $750,000. The bond for Hughes is $500,000, and Michelle Lawrence's bond is $250,000. Swingle said Thursday he does not expect the Cape Girardeau/Bollinger County Major Case Squad to bring him any more suspects for prosecution. At one point, the squad had more than 30 law enforcement officers from six jurisdictions working together to solve the shootings. Michelle Lawrence and Patterson had brief appearances for initial arraignment via video feed from the Cape Girardeau County Jail before Associate Circuit Judge Gary Kamp. They were certified for the services of the public defender's office, and Kamp set a preliminary hearing for 1 p.m. Nov. 25. John Lawrence knew little would happen when Patterson and his estranged wife appeared before Kamp. But he went anyway, determined to follow the case from the beginning as he seeks to understand the crime. Lawrence said he went "just so I could see the looks on their faces." The picture was somewhat unsettling, he said. "There was no emotion whatsoever in Ryan. He was kind of cutting up" with the other prisoners "and Michelle, she kind of seemed saddened by the whole thing, but I don't know if that is even true." According to the sworn statements filed in court Thursday, Hughes went to the home John Lawrence shared with Jamie Orman to take part in a burglary. In the probable-cause affidavit, Detective Jimmy Smith of the Cape Girardeau Police Department wrote that Michelle Lawrence revealed that Hughes, who she called "Ray Ray" in the interview, had accompanied Patterson to the North Missouri Avenue home. Patterson told her about Hughes' participation, Michelle Lawrence told detectives Don Perry and Darren Estes. Investigators later identified "Ray Ray" as Hughes. Smith and Cape Girardeau County sheriff's deputy Jamie Malugen interviewed Hughes on Wednesday, Smith wrote. Hughes told investigators that Patterson asked him along so they could commit a burglary together. Patterson "told him the people who lived there had a lot of televisions and computers," Smith wrote. The pair entered an attached garage, Smith reported Hughes as saying, but could not gain entry to the home. Patterson "told him there was supposed to be a large amount of money hidden in the deep freeze. Samuel Ray Hughes said he looked inside the freezer but did not find anything," Smith wrote. After attempting and failing to enter the home, the two exited through the window and Patterson told Hughes to be the lookout while he entered by kicking in a back door, Smith wrote. "He said Ryan came back outside quickly, shouting 'Come on! Come on! We've got to go!'" Smith wrote. The sworn statement does not say whether Patterson admitted the killings, but Hughes told the investigators that Patterson had a gun, with a potato attached to silence the muzzle sound. As they drove away, Patterson talked about the people in the home having "insurance and good stuff" and as he dropped Hughes off at a home on Mill Street, Patterson waved the gun and said, "Loose lips sink ships." Hughes wasn't the first person Patterson asked to act as a lookout. According to statements filed in the charges against all three, a co-worker of both Patterson and Michelle Lawrence was asked if she would help for $15,000. Asked to explain, Patterson told the co-worker that Michelle Lawrence wanted John Lawrence and Jamie Orman killed. The $15,000, he explained, would come from insurance proceeds paid out on Lawrence's life and from a planned arson to burn the home. Patterson drove the co-worker by the home at 1224 N. Missouri Ave. after 1 a.m. Tuesday and told her of his plans while on an errand to buy cigarettes. Patterson was at the co-worker's home but left after a confrontation on her porch in which he brandished a .44-caliber pistol fitted with a telescopic sight. Autopsy results showed that the Ormans died of gunshots from a .44-caliber weapon. 388-3642 Pertinent addresses: 1224 N. Missouri Ave., Cape Girardeau, MO 326 S. Lorimier St., Cape Girardeau, MO 921 Hackberry St., Cape Girardeau, MO
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these people need to fry! what has this world come to. sad very sad.
I read the other report that said Hughes thought that Patterson used a homeade silencer. But then Hughes says he thought he was going for a burglary. Why would you need a silencer for a burglary?
what ever happened to the aiding and abbedding charge they used to have and why didn't the co. worker get charged for not telling that she was offering her or him money to help unlessthey going to be a state informant.
His Social Security number is on the probable cause statement. I realize he's being charged with a felony, but do they normally publish the SS numbers of felons?
if this guy is being charged with 3 counts of second degree murder and 1 count of first degree burglary for being a LOOK OUT (not even entering the house), then why is the woman that CAME UP WITH THE IDEA and bought the ammo, not being charged with murder? who cares if the person that she INTENDED to die wasn't there, 3 other innocent people died BECAUSE of her idea. to me it looks like "the same difference". she definitely needs be charged with the same stuff as the idiot that pulled the trigger! all involved need to burn for the rest of their lives, they should be sentenced to death!
AMEN!!
Why is his bond set higher than Lawrence??
i have an ex husband whom i pretty much despise...but i have never wanted to kill him...for any amount of money...she should be charged with the same felonies that the actual shooter is...this was her idea...may jamie and her sons rest in peace, and may GOD give all their family peace as well.
Wow. Four people involved now. Four residents of Cape Girardeau were capable and willing to kill innocent people for money. That's the scariest part.
The probable cause statements for Lawrence and Patterson are warrants. Where are the PCS's? Matt?
I don't think she could be charged with murder. She wasn't there. She didn't take part in the act. All she did was help plan it. That would be the conspiracy part that she faces now.
A warrant is just a probable cause statement UNTIL it is SIGNED by a judge to authorize an arrest. The officers must show probable cause to obtain an arrest warrant.
Bubba gunna give Patterson "loose lips" while he waitin' on def row.
SEMissouri70---i think her part in planning it is practically the same as if she paid patterson to kill her husband. if you pay someone to kill someone else for you, you get charged with murder too. just because she wasn't there or pulled the trigger, she still caused this by thinking it up, BUYING THE BULLETS, and telling him to do it. in my opinion it's the same thing. there has to be something else Mr. Swingle can charge her with, 5-15 years is not near long enough for her - the person that thought up the whole plan.
Story keeps getting better all the time. What has this world came too?
mom4- totally agree. I have an exhusband whom I would not shed a tear if he was dead, but I wouldn't be the cause of it.
It just shows what a wacko Michelle was. Look at her photos, does she look like someone who feels one ounce of remorse? No, she looks like a cold blooded murderer who only regrets that John wasn't also killed.
Morley Swingle needs to rethink what he is charging Michelle with! That wack job needs to be off the street for more than 5 lousy years!
I think the thing people need to remember, is while we are all outraged Michelle most likely will not get the sentence any of us would like, there is a maximum set for certain crimes. If we don't like these penalties, we need to speak out to people that can change them. We can't wait for a tragedy then expect them to be changed.
We also might need to consider that as more people are spoken to, more arrests are made, more charges may be added.
CLM---you are so right. if she's not charged with what everyone thinks she should be, then we do need to speak up and change things! who knows, maybe this case could change the way charges are filed for how it fits the crime. because obviously the way they are being filed now, alot of people don't agree with, they don't think it fits the crime.
*yes she thought it up, but didn't pull the trigger.
*yes, her "husband" wasn't the one that died
*3 other people were killed, BECASUE of her idiotic actions and "thoughts"
*2 other people ARE being charged with murder, 1 that actually did it, and 1 that didn't even enter the house or know what the other was planning on doing.
COME ON...WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE PICTURE? we do need to start talking to our law makers, something needs to change. we can only hope that as the police talk to more people, that more charges are brought against this woman.
SEMissouri70 ; I believe she could I think it was done in the case of Charles Manson .......
Michelle is charged with enough to keep her out of circulation for a long time. The sad thing is that she may get half of the house when the divorce is settled, and keep her prison commisary account maxed out for a while.
rockman54---that's good! he wasn't there for any of those murders, was he? he just told them to do it. oohh! you're good!
The DEATH PENALTY for all parties involved!!!!!
Anyone know why Paragraph 2 does not apply:
Second degree murder, penalty.
565.021. 1. A person commits the crime of murder in the second degree if he:
(1) Knowingly causes the death of another person or, with the purpose of causing serious physical injury to another person, causes the death of another person; or
(2) Commits or attempts to commit any felony, and, in the perpetration or the attempted perpetration of such felony or in the flight from the perpetration or attempted perpetration of such felony, another person is killed as a result of the perpetration or attempted perpetration of such felony or immediate flight from the perpetration of such felony or attempted perpetration of such felony.
2. Murder in the second degree is a class A felony, and the punishment for second degree murder shall be in addition to the punishment for commission of a related felony or attempted felony, other than murder or manslaughter.
3. Notwithstanding section 556.046, RSMo, and section 565.025, in any charge of murder in the second degree, the jury shall be instructed on, or, in a jury-waived trial, the judge shall consider, any and all of the subdivisions in subsection 1 of this section which are supported by the evidence and requested by one of the parties or the court.
Mr Sanders you may want to read down a little further and you will see the SS numbers are listed where the police officers statements are also. You may want to black those out also.
One look at her picture (Lawrence) and I can understand why he is divorcing her. Besides the fact that she's probably going to use the defense that she was abused as a child, abused in marriage, and is a psycho case, she needs to be locked up, and the death pentaly given to her and her boyfriend. The one who is the last to be charged Ray Ray, knew something was going down, and don't believe in a minute he didn't. Even if it was to burguralize a residence, carrying a gun NOT!!!
Just an fyi..there is still a social on Samuel Ray Hughes information towards the end of the document.
John Lawrence speaking on KFVS12 was so heartbreaking. To hear him apologize that he wasn't there to protect them. Can you only imagine the guilt this man is living with.
Isn't offering half the insurance money a payment for services rendered? She basically DID offer to pay for it.
IonU---I believe the operative word in paragraph two is "perpetration". Mrs. Lawrence did not attempt to perpetrate or actually perpetrate this crime. She "conspired". The two males involved actually perpetrated this crime. IMHO KTBA
IonU, Hughes is being charged with first degree burglary, which is a Class B felony in Missouri. I'm assuming that's what makes him eligible for the second-degree murder charge. Thanks for the extremely informative post, as well.
Burglary in the first degree.
569.160. 1. A person commits the crime of burglary in the first degree if he knowingly enters unlawfully or knowingly remains unlawfully in a building or inhabitable structure for the purpose of committing a crime therein, and when in effecting entry or while in the building or inhabitable structure or in immediate flight therefrom, he or another participant in the crime:
(1) Is armed with explosives or a deadly weapon or;
(2) Causes or threatens immediate physical injury to any person who is not a participant in the crime; or
(3) There is present in the structure another person who is not a participant in the crime.
2. Burglary in the first degree is a class B felony.
Unfortunately, what happened with Manson won't necessarily apply in this case. State law for Missouri and California are different, plus are amended over time (the Manson killing was over 30 years ago if I remember correctly).
ghm and MM I was looking at the charge of conspiracy (a felony) to commit murder as being the operative part of "commits or attempts to commit any felony". It seems that planning the week before, buying the bullets and knowing that Patterson was going to commit the murder, would be the conspiracy, and the fact that someone died during this conspiracy would make her eligible for the second degree murder statute. Seems like CSI or The Closer mentions something called the felony murder rule.
Don't want to sound cold, because I think how this all went down is so horribly sad, but if they all knew the wife was such a threat per the restraining order statements then why would a woman live with the married man/spend the weekend with him at his home and especially put her kids in harms way by making them stay there in that environment. The people who did this should be punished severely by the law, but everyone needs to look at this and think maybe bringing kids into a hostile situation where threats of violence have already been made repeatedly was not the "responsible" thing to do. Divorce can be a nasty violent situation without adultery, but throw adultery, threats, etc in the mix and it can get out of hand real quick. No one asked for this and I'm hoping those responsible will be held accountable but if nothing else, maybe someone else out there in the same situation will learn from this. If you want to take a risk with your life and live with a married man even though his wife is violent/threatening that's one thing, but to force your children into that environment in something irresponsible at best.
IonU----3 souls died during the committing of a crime of burglary and during the committing of a crime of murder. You don't commit conspiracy, you engage in conspiriacy. Mrs Lawrence engaged in felony conspiracy to commit murder. That infraction carries different and lighter punishment than the actual murder. IMHO KTBA
First, this Patterson loser has been watching too many movies. Potatoes, by themselves, do not work as silencers unless you do something extra to them, which I won't mention here for obvious reasons. Furthermore, you cannot suppress a revolver (the gases escape through the open cylinder), much less a .44-caliber revolver! Second, I agree with another comment. Why would you need a gun to do a burglary (oh, I'm sorry, "hit a lick"), much less a silencer (even though there's no way that would work anyway on a .44)? This Hughes knew what was going down. He's lying if he says he didn't ... or he's a total moron. Lastly, I can already see the outcome of this case: Patterson, death penalty (recall how those two triple murders here ended back in 1992 for the killers); Hughes, life without parole; Michelle Lawrence, 30 or 40 years, if she doesn't get life, too (she should). I doubt the collective IQ of these three idiots even get out of double digits. Also, the ones who were told about the murders before the murders took place must be state witnesses, too, or they would be charged with accessory before the fact. The only way they could have avoided those charges was notifying the authorities (which they obviously didn't), so they had to have been given immunity for their testimony. By the way, this reminds me, there was a 1992 movie called "South Central." In it, they used potatoes for silencers (again, that only works in the movies) and one of the main characters' nickname was "Ray Ray."
They all deserve to die . Just like the victims.
IonU----She conspired to kill her ex-husband. Was he killed? No But she still conspired to kill him. Did she conspire to kill her ex-husband's pregnant girlfriend or her son? No Therefore she can only be charged with conspiracy to commit felony murder (Her ex-husband) and not be charged with 1st or 2nd degree murder. If she went along and participated in anyway, ie., lookout, etc., in the commission of the burglary and triple murders then yes she could held liable as was the lookout who wasn't even in the house when that animal killed 3 people. Hope that helps your thinking this through. KTBA
IonU----She conspired to kill her ex-husband. Was he killed? No But she still conspired to kill him. Did she conspire to kill her ex-husband's pregnant girlfriend or her son? No Therefore she can only be charged with conspiracy to commit felony murder (Her ex-husband) and not be charged with 1st or 2nd degree murder. If she went along and participated in anyway, ie., lookout, etc., in the commission of the burglary and triple murders then yes she could held liable as was the lookout who wasn't even in the house when that animal killed 3 people. Hope that helps your thinking this through. KTBA
I guess I thought this post was good enough to post twice. LOL Sorry KTBA
No they deserve solitay confinment in the hole for the rest of their lives. That would be worse that anything. You lose all track of time and a week feels like a year.
Joe Smith II----I like your narrative writing style but according to the charges against these three morons it's probably going to end up as follows: Patterson---Death or LWOP, Hughs--conviction of second degree muder will carry a sentence less than LWOP. He could be out after 20 or so years. Michelle---conviction on conspiracy to commit felony murder 5 to 30 years. KTBA
Don't anybody be surprised if Patterson's IQ is too low to allow him to be executed. It's happened before on Missouri death row. Sentence changed to LWOP. I only hope he goes into general population at the prison. KTBA
conspiracy= two or more ppl talk about a crime. One or both go through with it. It's really simple. Conspiracy just knocks the "letter" of the crime down a notch. class A to a class B...Class B to a C....
Anyone who knows anything about case-net could've solved this. Several "posters" posted correct info. Thank you.
Is there a conspiracy charge that could be leveled against her for the burglary too?
According to what Ms. Lawrence's estranged husband said on the news, he was certain that she knew he was at work and that she knew Ms. Orman's boys were with her at the house. So, that doesn't really back up her side of the story that she intended for Mr. Patterson to kill Mr. Lawrence unless Mr. Patterson went there on the wrong day and wrong time. ???
This case and the past few heinous cases of the past 6 months have totally transformed my view of abortion in this country. It sure would have been nice if these three oxygen thieves in this case would have been aborted by their mothers a couple or three decades ago. Makes me wonder why their parents had them and wonder how we could influence our prison populations if we let more and more disadvantaged folks get more abortions. Sure seems to me like we could clean the place up a bit if we had more abortion procedures around here.
"Michelle Lawrence could be put in prison for five to 15 years."
I can't believe that the mastermind of this entire tradegy, could be on the streets in 5 years! Unbelievable! ):
This shows you what people will do for love (hate).
Looking for love in all of the wrong places--God is love. Maybe this tragedy will help someone else wake up.
mongengineer,
Your a sick puppy! I won't elaborate because its plain obvious.
When Patterson lays on that table, getting that needle injected in his arm, Michelle and Ray Ray need to be right beside him with a needle in their arm as well.
I read in the article that Patterson said that Michelle wanted the ex-husband AND Jamie dead. The co-worker stated that Patterson told her that Michelle wanted both deads so then would that be considered conspiring to commit murder and then murder in the second because Jamie was killed. I am just asking I am not a legal mind.
If the prosecuting attorney entered into a plea deal with Michelle Lawrence in order for her cooperation then he most likely will catch a LOT of flack. Coworker of her's and Jackson stated that Michelle wanted both husband and girlfriend killed. It was also part of the plan to burn the house down and collect fire insurance. Michelle knew the girlfriend was living in the house. How do you burn a house down and not kill the occupant sleeping in the basement? Looks like prosecutor had to make a "deal with the devil" in order to get trigger man. If prosecutor didn't give Michelle deal then look for charges against her to possibly be increased. This woman needs to stay behind bars the rest of her life. KTBA
The why is hard to understand.
I guess we could begin our quest at the tree in The Garden...
It said that she wanted both John Lawrence and Jamie Orman killed. Why the hell is she only facing 5-15 years? She should be going away for life at the very least.
none of these ppl would be dead if the ex wife hadnt sent the murderer to that house, so how is it again that she is not responsible for their murders ?????????????
May God be with the family and friends of Jamie, and her sons. This is a tragedy, a senseless act of murder. How someone can do this to another human being, is beyond me. The bible speaks of money being the "root of all evil". This is what God meant........
Jamie was a friend of mine, I knew her for years. She was a wonderful person, with a whole lot to offer. She brought smiles among all of us who knew her. She will always be remembered.
May she be in peace, being with 2 of her son's in heaven.
Please Lord, I ask that you bless this family, bless the friends, and please dear Lord, see fit these people pay for the unselfish acts they have done. Please Lord See fit to punish these people who have taken it upon themselves, to take the lives of 3 innocent people. Lord, I ask that you provide justice for this family. In Jesus Name, Amen.
sk8tamom: Just because she was the mastermind behind the operation (we don't know that yet as it is just a claim by law enforcement) doesn't mean she committed the act. That is why she has the charge of conspiracy. If she had gone to the scene or had pulled the trigger then she would be facing murder charges. You have to remember she didn't actually commit the act.
This is just my opinion.... If Mr. Swingle did make a plea bargain with Michelle Lawrence I would assume that since she lied to cover her a** that the plea could be null, and void. She 'claimed' that she did not know that Jamie, and her sons were there. According to the statement that John Lawrence gave KFVS she DID know that Jamie, and her sons were there, and she KNEW that John was at work. Michelle should(at the very least) be sent to prison for life without the possiblity for parole. It is too bad that she failed at her attempts to kill herself. Everyone would be better off now if she did. But that is just my opinion. I am sure that God will give her exactly what she deserves.
Hookie98:
I could not agree with you any more! This was all just a senseless act of murder. This woman KNEW that she was there, and LIVED there. She was in a loving relationship, and this was now her home. She was carrying his child! God is the true judge in this case, as well as any other horrific case like this. I can only hope that when the day comes, justice will prevail in the Kingdom of God. Unfortunately, the law's dont govern' the law of God. In fact, most dont even believe in him anymore. This is where that road takes us....a road to nowhere. Hell
Maybe she did or didn't know he was at work, but seeing as how Patterson wasn't smart enough to shoot the right person maybe he can't read a clock to show up at the right time either. I have also wondered why the other person hasn't been arrested and maybe it's because she agreed to talk in exchange for not facing charges. Just a thought on a possibility. Maybe that's what got the ball rolling on charges against everyone else.