Man pleads innocent to machete killing

HANNIBAL, Mo. (AP) -- A northeast Missouri man has pleaded innocent to charges of second-degree murder in the machete killing of a man.

Kent Gollaher, 34, of Hannibal, entered the plea Tuesday. He is accused of killing Steven Stricklin, 53, of St. Louis, on Oct. 19 at Gollaher's home.

Gollaher also faces charges of armed criminal action. Additional charges may be pending, authorities said.

Rose M. Reed, 53, Stricklin's girlfriend, was also stabbed in the attack at the home Gollaher shares with Reed and her daughter, Kimberly, who is Gollaher's girlfriend. During the hearing Tuesday, probation officer Ken Norman said Gollaher told him he had some problems during the evening and "just snapped and went off."

Gollaher was arrested after allegedly holding Kimberly Reed hostage for about five hours. Police were eventually able to talk him out of the home.

Gollaher remains jailed on $1 million bond.