Clay Waller to plead today

Clay Waller is expected in court this afternoon to enter a guilty plea in connection to the death of his wife Jacque Waller.

A plea hearing is set for 1:30 p.m. at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse in Jackson, Cape Girardeau County Circuit Judge Ben Lewis said earlier this week.

Judge Lewis has barred communication devices from the courtroom, so the result won't be known until the hearing is over.

Prosecutors and the public defender's office have been silent on the details of what Clay Waller will plead to, or what sentence he might get.

The plea comes a week after authorities confirmed that Jacque Waller's body was found. She went missing June 1, 2011, after investigators say she and Clay Waller argued about a pending divorce.

About an hour before the hearing, cars filled up the parking lot in Jackson's courthouse square, but only a few people were milling about outside. Jacque Waller's family arrived earlier in the day and were already inside the courthouse.

A news conference will follow the hearing at 3:30 p.m. The Southeast Missourian plans to stream live video of the news conference on its home page.

Look for updates this afternoon at www.semissourian.com and full coverage in Friday's Southeast Missourian.