Officials expect large crowd for Krajcir hearing

Confessed serial killer Timothy W. Krajcir will step into a Missouri courtroom for the first time Friday instead of the April 14 date scheduled for his arraignment, said Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle.

What hasn't been decided yet is which courtroom it will be.

Under normal circumstances, the arraignment, where Krajcir will have his first opportunity to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty, would be held at the county courthouse in Jackson, but these aren't normal circumstances.

Because of the sheer volume of people who have expressed interest in attending, Swingle said court officials not only agreed to schedule the hearing separately instead of a regular law day like April 14, but they may hold it at the federal courthouse.

In December, Krajcir, 63, confessed to committing five of Cape Girardeau's unsolved murders, those of Mary and Brenda Parsh and Sheila Cole, in 1977, and Margie Call and Mildred Wallace in 1982, crimes whose trail had been relatively cold for decades.

Krajcir faces charges of five counts of first degree murder, three counts of rape, one count of robbery and four counts of statutory sodomy.

"So many family members of victims were so affected by this," Swingle said.

A relative of the one of the victims expressed concern as to whether there would be separate seating for family members in case they arrived late and all the seats were taken, he said.

The federal building offers a larger courtroom with more space for spectators, as well as increased security measures, an important consideration because the case has become so high profile.

"He's become such a notorious figure that we don't want to worry about some nut trying to make a name for himself," Swingle said.

Anyone wishing to attend the hearing will have to pass through a metal detector, regardless of the venue.

Swingle said he expects between 50 and 100 people to attend the hearing, among them family members of Krajcir's victims, members of the media, citizens and police officers who investigated the five murders with which Krajcir is charged.

Cape Girardeau police chief Carl Kinnison said he planned on being there if he could.

"Part of it is that I have a lot of time and emotional energy involved in this case, and part is that this was a very significant case in the history of this department and town," Kinnison said.

Kinnison worked as an evidence technician June 21, 1982, when Mildred Wallace was murdered at her Cape Girardeau residence.

He spent the night alone at her 1218 William St. home securing the crime scene, and still recalls sitting at her kitchen table, wondering if the killer would return.

"I don't know if I want to see him or not," said John Brown, the former Cape Girardeau police detective who investigated the string of homicides to which Krajcir has confessed.

Brown said he hasn't decided if he'll attend the hearing, but that he has considered it.

For Vickie Abernathy, a longtime friend of Brenda Parsh, the hearing, and the chance to face Krajcir, may bring a sense of closure to a case she says has consumed her for 30 years.

Abernathy and Parsh worked together at the Southeast Missouri State University shop, and competed in several beauty pageants alongside one another.

She would like the opportunity to confront her friend's alleged killer, Abernathy said.

"My dream has been to sit down and talk to him," she said.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245

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