Man accused of killing three headed to court

SALEM, Mo. -- A man charged with killing a deputy sheriff and two other people will be back in court later this month. At a preliminary hearing Monday, a judge found sufficient cause for Earl Forrest II, 53, to appear in Circuit Court in Salem on April 22 for a formal arraignment.

Forrest faces three counts of first-degree murder, assault of a law enforcement officer, armed criminal action and drug possession.

The charges stem from incidents on Dec. 9, 2002, when police were investigating the shooting deaths of Harriet Smith, 51, of Salem, and Michael Wells, 41, of Licking.

Dent County Deputy Sheriff Sharon Joanne Barnes, 48, and Sheriff Bob Wofford were shot as they arrived at Forrest's home to question him about the slayings, the Missouri State Highway Patrol has said.

Barnes died at a St. Louis hospital. The sheriff was treated and released.

A shootout ensued after the law enforcement officials came under fire. Forrest and a friend were hit, but both recovered.

Forrest was charged with the deaths of Barnes, Smith and Wells.

Authorities have said the shooting of Smith appeared to be drug related, but they believe Wells apparently was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Police found a large amount of methamphetamine inside Forrest's home in the town 130 miles southwest of St. Louis, according to court documents.