CRIME: COUSINS CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

BENTON, Mo. -- Murder charges against two cousins accused of killing a Scott City, Mo., woman were elevated from second-degree to first-degree murder Wednesday.

New charges were filed Wednesday against Gary W. Biggs, 36, of Cape Girardeau and his cousin, Charles "Scott" Biggs, 31, of Scott City in connection with the killing of 57-year-old Willie Mae Vasquez last July, said Scott Holste, spokesman for the Missouri attorney general's office.

The change in charges continued a pattern that has frustrated the victim's daughter, Susan Steele of Commerce, Mo.

Steele and some law enforcement officials originally thought that the cousins were charged with first-degree murder after their arrest in August. However, Scott County prosecutor Christy Baker-Neel later said that this was a misunderstanding, and sufficient evidence for only second-degree murder charges existed.

After Baker-Neel and Steele had problems discussing the case, the prosecutor requested that a special prosecutor be appointed.

Special prosecutor Marvin Teer of the attorney general's office was in Benton on Wednesday to meet with Baker-Neel and file new charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action against both suspects.

Charges of armed criminal action, a felony punishable by a maximum of life in prison, were originally filed by Baker-Neel.

Preliminary hearings were scheduled for the suspects on Wednesday afternoon, but they were postponed to Nov. 1 after the cousins appeared separately before Associate Circuit Judge David Mann.

Scott Biggs is being represented by attorney Stephen Wilson of Cape Girardeau, and Gary Biggs' attorney is public defender Christopher Davis.

Although Teer was not in court Wednesday, Baker-Neel was present.

The special prosecutor has not completely taken over the case, but is working at the discretion of Baker-Neel's office, Holste said.

"This is an assistance case," he said. "We're ready to press forward with whatever level of involvement needed."

Gary Biggs waved to friends and relatives seated in court before he appeared before the judge. Scott Biggs, who entered the courtroom through a separate door after his cousin had left, did not acknowledge anyone.

The two men are being held in separate jails. Gary Biggs remains in the Scott County jail, while Scott Biggs is in the Chaffee city jail.