Hearing set in case of beating deaths

Standard Democrat

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 20 for a man charged in the beating deaths of a woman and her son.

Andre Clark, 41, of Charleston, who is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action and one count of first-degree assault, waived his right to a formal arraignment earlier this week.

Clark was charged on Oct. 20 following a four-month investigation in the June 16 deaths of Lazan T. Balentine, 32, and Kyri Balentine, 3, of Charleston. He was arrested in Chicago on June 20.

The Balentines were beaten to death with what appeared to be a blunt object at their home, along with Balentine's other son, Knighten, 4. He received serious injuries.