Hearing set for Allen, accused of killing neighbor

Judge Alan Beussink scheduled a preliminary hearing Wednesday, Jan. 24, for Terry Allen, accused of first-degree murder of his neighbor Tina L. Skaggs.

The hearing is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 23.

Allen's appearance Jan. 24 took place as part of court day in the makeshift courtroom at Marble Hill City Hall because of the county courthouse's deteriorating condition. Allen appeared in a prison-orange jumpsuit, handcuffs and chains. As he was escorted from the back of the room to the defendant's table, he walked with an obvious limp within inches of several of Skaggs' family members who attended the hearing. He was represented by public defender Katie New, who did not appear in person because of what was described as a calendar mistake. However, she spoke on speaker from a cellphone placed in front of Allen.

After the date for the preliminary hearing was set, Allen told the judge he wanted to set a pretrial date, which the judge said had just occurred. Allen had previously filed a handwritten request for a speedy trial, which the judge took note of, saying he wanted to schedule the preliminary hearing as quickly as possible. As the judge, New and Prosecuting Attorney Stephen Gray tried to find a day that would work with their schedules, Gray mentioned he will seek assistance from Missouri attorney general's office for the murder trial.

Allen is accused of shooting and killing Skaggs on Dec. 16. Skaggs and Allen were neighbors on Route Y in Bollinger County. According to the probable-cause statement filed by the prosecutor, Skaggs was shot in the leg. She left a blood trail that began in her house and continued outside in the carport to the place where her body was found, according to the probable-cause statement.

Tina Skaggs

Days before the shooting, Bollinger County deputies responded to a call in which Allen stated he was going to shoot Skaggs' son if Allen saw him on the property again, according to the probable-cause statement. The deputy stated he told Allen he could not shoot someone for simply being on his property. Allen responded by saying that President Joe Biden said he could shoot a person in the leg.

Skaggs' daughter, Celina Schaut, said both Allen and her mother lived in homes on property owned by a man in St. Louis. She said her mother enjoyed the property for the orchard that Allen had planted many years ago, and often picked nuts off the ground from the trees with family members on her portion of the property. She said Skaggs had mentioned a few neighborly disputes, which she didn't think were serious, adding that her mother often helped Allen with chores and tasks around the property.