Murderer back in Dunklin County court next week

An Arkansas man convicted in 2011 on murder charges and facing related charges in Dunklin County is set to appear in court again next week.

Devontae Rivers was 19 at the time of the abduction and murder of Dorian Long of Blytheville. Long was in Kennett, Missouri, on March 1, 2011, when he was robbed at gunpoint and forced into the trunk of his car, authorities say. Rivers drove the car, with Long in the trunk, back to Blytheville and killed him.

Long's body was found the next day. On March 3, the car was found burned on Dunklin County Road 405.

Rivers pleaded guilty to first degree murder, kidnapping and aggravated robbery in Mississippi County, Arkansas, and was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

In Missouri, Rivers is charged with two counts of kidnapping, robbery in the first degree, three counts of armed criminal action and tampering with physical evidence, as well as first and second-degree murder.

Two others involved in the kidnapping and murder are serving sentences in the Arkansas Department of Corrections. Kiyuanna Thompson and Shaquilla Davis pleaded guilty to first degree kidnapping and were sentenced to 25 years each, in 2012.

A hearing on the Missouri charges is set for Feb. 11 at the Dunklin County Justice Center, before 35th Circuit Court Judge Robert Mayer. A motion was for continuance was granted last month.