Bank robbery suspects to appear in court

The four suspects in the Jan. 12 armed robbery of the Bank of America branch at 800 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau will appear Friday in federal court for an evidentiary hearing.

At the hearing, the defendants can ask the judge to suppress evidence or statements made to investigators. Approximately $10,300 was stolen during the robbery.

Three suspects were captured Jan. 18 on the West Coast. Derek E. "Rio" Riggs, 24, of Bloomfield, Ill., Dareme P. "Sammy" Tipler, 24, and Corey D. "Blue" or "Komo" Lyons, 30, both of Charleston, Mo., were captured after a standoff with police and FBI agents at Embassy Suites Hotel in Bellevue, Wash., east of Seattle.

The fourth suspect, Toria W. Lawrence, 20, of Sikeston, Mo., was arrested soon after the robbery when she contacted police to complain about her photo appearing in the media from a bank security camera shot. She has already appeared at least once in federal court.

Investigators say Lawrence entered the bank before the robbery as a scout, then drove the getaway car, a rented silver 2004 Buick Century. According to the FBI, Lawrence admitted her role in the crime and identified the other three suspects. She also turned in $139 of the missing money.

If convicted of armed robbery, they could each face up to 25 years in prison.