Banks pleads not guilty in death of Cape woman

MURPHYSBORO, Ill. -- A Cape Girardeau man pleaded not guilty Wednesday in a murder case stemming from the death of 40-year-old Marsha Ann Brown, also of Cape Girardeau.

Brandon Banks, 28, appeared in Jackson County, Ill., Circuit Court for an arraignment Wednesday morning on a felony murder charge in connection with the death of Brown, whose body was found Jan. 14 in rural Makanda, Ill.

Banks is subject to enhanced penalties because he is accused of using a firearm in the slaying, Judge William Schwartz told him in court.

A motorist found Brown's body in a ditch on the south side of Potters Road near U.S. 51 in rural Makanda, Ill., the Jackson County Sheriff's Department reported at the time.

Two days later, authorities arrested Banks in St. Louis.

A grand jury indicted him March 6, but his initial court appearance was not until April 8, when he was advised of his rights and assigned a public defender.

Because Banks was arrested in Missouri on an Illinois charge, he had to be extradited, which slowed down the process, Jackson County State's Attorney Mike Carr has said.

"It is a paperwork issue initially, but then the defendant is entitled to a hearing" to determine he is, indeed, the person wanted in Illinois, Carr said.

Authorities have not released a motive in the case.

Banks' last known address was 716 N. Sprigg St. in Cape Girardeau -- the same address where local police helped agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives execute a search warrant the day before his arrest.

Online court records show Banks has several prior offenses in Missouri, including a 2011 case in which he was placed on probation for unlawful possession of a firearm and a 2007 case in which he pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance.

epriddy@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

Murphysboro, IL