Brown found guilty of murder, could face death penalty

WAYNESVILLE, Mo. -- A 26-year-old man was convicted today of first-degree murder and kidnapping in the July 7, 2002 death of Ralph Lee Lape Jr.

Justin Brown, of Cape Girardeau, was accused of killing Lape, 54, for his money and burying his body near Portageville, Mo. A Pulaski County jury deliberated for four hours before reaching its decision.

The jurors will now hear evidence and testimony to decide the defendant's sentence. He could receive the death penalty.

Co-defendant Mark Gill, 35, was convicted separately of first-degree murder and kidnapping and sentenced to die.

During Brown's four-day trial, held in Pulaski County on a change of venue, a videotaped statement from the defendant from 2002 said he went along with the plot to kill Lape out of fear Gill would kill him as well.

For more details on this story as it develops, check back here or in Friday's Southeast Missourian.