COUSINS ARE CHARGED IN WOMAN'S DEATH

BENTON, Mo. -- Two cousins face murder charges in the death of a Scott City, Mo., woman who disappeared at the end of July, the Scott County Sheriff's Department said.

Gary Wayne Biggs, 36, and Charles Scott Biggs, 31, are charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with the death of Willie Mae Vasquez, 57, Sheriff Bill Ferrell said.

Gary Biggs, of 703 Third St. in Scott City, and Charles Biggs, of 125 N. Clark St. in Cape Girardeau, are being held in the Scott County Jail without bond, the sheriff said.

On July 26, Gary Biggs was hiding in bushes close to a rock quarry near the Mississippi River as Vasquez walked in the vicinity, said reports from the sheriff's department and Scott County prosecuting attorney's office.

As Vasquez walked past, Gary Biggs came out from the bushes and struck her in the back of her head three times with a hatchet, said sheriff's Cpl. Jerry Bledsoe in a probable-cause affidavit.

While Vasquez lay on the ground, Gary Biggs took a shovel and struck her in the back of the head, Bledsoe reports.

Both Charles and Gary Biggs buried Vasquez in a shallow grave near the scene of the attack, authorities said.

"Without the cooperation of one of the participants in the crime who took us to the grave, we might never have located her body," Ferrell said.

Sheriff's deputies worked with Scott City police and Wolsey Investigative Service Inc. in conducting numerous interviews that led to the suspects, Ferrell said. The private investigators were hired by Susan Steel, Vasquez's 38-year-old daughter, to find Vasquez.

Investigators are still looking for possible motives, Ferrell said.

Gary Biggs has numerous felony convictions, the affidavit states.

It is likely that the two suspects were familiar with Vasquez, as were many residents of Scott City, the sheriff said. Vasquez, who did not own a car, frequently walked long distances around the area.

Vasquez would often walk miles from her home to a convenience store near Interstate 55 in Scott City to buy cigarettes, Steel said.

"You never saw her out walking without her pocketbook," said police Sgt. Rick Sheren.

Vasquez's purse and cigarettes were both found at her residence on east Malone Street. No damage had been done to the house, and only a television remote control was missing, Steel said.

When Steel went to visit her mother on July 26 and no one was home, she said she assumed that Vasquez was out walking.

Both suspects are expected to appear in Scott County court on Tuesday, said Stephen Juergens, assistant county prosecutor.