Doniphan woman receives 20 years for role in murders

UNION, Mo. -- A Doniphan, Mo., woman is on her way to prison after being sentenced Monday afternoon for her role in the 2010 deaths of two elderly couples whose bodies were found in their burned homes.

Chantale Youngblood, 20, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for felony second-degree murder by Presiding Circuit Judge Gael Wood in Franklin County, according to her attorney, Steve Lynxwiler with the public defender's office.

In July, Youngblood pleaded guilty to four counts of felony second-degree murder in connection with the shooting deaths of Loyd Eugene Piatt, 77, and Gladys Irene Piatt, 80, on June 23, 2010, and Edgar Atkinson, 81, and Bonnie Chase, 69, on July 10, 2010.

Pursuant to the plea negotiations, Lynxwiler earlier said, the state was recommending concurrent 20-year sentences on each count.

Youngblood was sentenced on one of the counts, with sentencing on the remaining counts to be at a later date.

"We set our case for [a] status [hearing] for March 11, 2014," said Lynxwiler.

According to earlier reports, the state's sentencing recommendation is contingent upon Youngblood's cooperation and "truthful testimony" in the state's prosecution of her former boyfriend, Keith A. Boyles, for his alleged role in the crimes.

Boyles, 21, is charged with four counts of felony first-degree murder and four unclassified felonies of armed criminal action.

Boyles, who could face the death penalty if convicted of the murders, is to stand trial in 2014.

A jury will be selected from Ste. Genevieve County on May 1 and 2 to hear the case in Butler County, with testimony set to begin May 5.

Youngblood's parents already are serving prison sentences for their roles in the murders.

Family members

A Shannon County jury in January convicted Youngblood's mother, Melissa "Lisa" Youngblood, of two counts of felony first-degree murder in connection with the Atkinson and Chase deaths. The 36-year-old is serving concurrent life sentences and is not eligible for probation or parole.

In June 2012, her father, David Youngblood, 49, pleaded guilty to the four counts of felony first-degree murder. He is serving consecutive life sentences on each charge and is not eligible for probation or parole.

Four armed criminal action charges were dismissed by the state at the time of David Youngblood's plea and sentencing.

The Youngbloods, their then-17-year-old daughter and Boyles initially were charged in connection with the deaths of Atkinson and Chase, who were found in their burning Current View, Mo., home.

An autopsy determined Atkinson died of gunshot wounds to the head and upper torso. A cause of death for Chase was not immediately known.

David Youngblood, Chantale Youngblood and Boyles subsequently also were charged with killing the Piatts, who were David Youngblood's aunt and uncle. The Piatts were found dead June 23, 2010, inside their rural Doniphan home.

While authorities initially thought the couple had died of smoke inhalation, they became suspicious when David Youngblood was among those arrested in connection with the deaths of Atkinson and Chase.

After the Youngbloods and Boyles were charged in connection with the couple's deaths, the investigation into the Piatts' deaths was reopened.

As part of that investigation, the Piatts' bodies were exhumed and autopsies were performed. Both reportedly had been shot in the chest.

'Trial run'

Testimony from Melissa Youngblood's January trial indicated David Youngblood wanted Boyles and Chantale Youngblood to "kill the Piatts and burn their house" as a "trial run" because "he wanted people to help him" rob banks.

A witness said David Youngblood wanted to make sure Boyles and his daughter could commit the crime, and he dropped the then teenagers off near the Piatts' home.

Using gasoline found at the Piatt home, the teens allegedly set the house on fire.

Additional testimony indicated Atkinson and Chase's subsequent deaths were "another trial run" for the bigger plan David Youngblood and others hoped to carry out.

Pertinent address:

Doniphan, Mo.