Greenville man faces trial over shooting death

GREENVILLE, Mo. -- A Greenville man was ordered to stand trial Tuesday for his role in the shooting death of a man whose body was found lying next to his overturned all-terrain vehicle on a county road near Hiram, Missouri.

Steven E. Jennewein, 34, appeared before Associate Circuit Judge Randy Schuller for a preliminary hearing on the charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action with Michael Burkman, 27, of Cape Girardeau and Brandon Norman, 25, of Lowndes, Missouri, in the Feb. 1 death of John C. Fowler.

Authorities allege Burkman, who had been staying in the Lowndes area, shot Fowler multiple times with a shotgun.

Fowler, a resident of St. Peters, Missouri, who most recently had been staying at the Heaven's Hope Campground in the Hiram area, was found dead about 11:15 a.m. Feb. 1 on a county road near the campground.

Authorities say Jennewein and Norman aided Burkman in killing Fowler.

Jennewein allegedly contacted Fowler by phone to make arrangements for a narcotics transaction.

Jennewein, according to online court records, waived having a preliminary hearing in his case.

Schuller accepted Jennewein's waiver and ordered he appear in court at 9 a.m. July 13 before Circuit Judge Sidney Pearson III for arraignment on the charges.

Burkman and Norman also face charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action.

Burkman, who earlier waived a preliminary hearing in his case, is set to appear Monday before Circuit Judge Kelly Parker for a motion hearing.

Norman is set to appear July 14 before Schuller for a preliminary hearing on his charges.

Pertinent address:

Greenville, Mo.