More details released in Wednesday night robbery of Benton convenience store

What follows in an updated new release from the Scott County Sheriff's Department regarding the Wednesday night robbery of a Benton convenience store. This new release gives names, ages and home towns of the suspects.

BENTON, MISSOURI - Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter said today that a couple are in custody following are armed robbery near Benton.

Michael C. Schneider, 19, Rosendale, Missouri and Nicole M. Nichols, 17, Gower, Missouri have both been charged with Robbery in the 1st degree and Armed Criminal Action.  Bond has been set at $50,000 each.  The couple is in custody at the Scott County Jail awaiting arraignment.

Walter said that approximately 7:20 pm Wednesday evening, a white male wearing a black cowboy hat and a black jacket entered a convenience store near Benton, and demanded cash from the attendant, threatening her with a revolver.

Leaving the convenience store with an undisclosed amount of cash, the suspect got in to a white sedan, occupied by a white female, and fled the scene

The direction of travel was thought to be north on I-55 and an employee of the business gave a partial license plate number.  All surrounding agencies were notified and given a description of the suspects and the suspect vehicle.

A little after 8:00 pm, the Missouri State Highway Patrol located the suspect vehicle traveling north at the 114-mile marker on I-55. After a short chase and disabling of the vehicle tires, the suspect vehicle was stopped.  Schneider and Nichols were taken in to custody near the 130-mile marker in Perry County.

The vehicle and two firearms inside the vehicle, one of which was used in the robbery were reported stolen from Andrew County, Missouri on December 8.