Pemiscot County jury to hear Cape Girardeau murder case

A Cape Girardeau man accused of allegedly killing a pregnant woman and her 15-year-old son will have his case heard before a Pemiscot County jury in a Cape Girardeau County courtroom.

Ryan T. Patterson, 28, was originally scheduled to appear Monday morning before Cape Girardeau County Circuit Judge William Syler to determine where the trial would be held or if bringing a jury to Cape Girardeau County was acceptable. Patterson had previously asked Syler for a change of venue. Syler had said he would consider the idea if Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle and Patterson's attorney, David Kenyon, both agreed.

While Patterson did not appear in court, Kenyon met with Patterson in the Cape Girardeau County Jail Monday. Afterward, Kenyon met with Syler and Swingle to reach the decision to bring the jury to Cape Girardeau County.

Missouri law has a provision that, instead of having change of venue, the prosecution and defense can pick the jury in another county and then have those jurors transported back to the county where the crime occurred.

"This should save quite a bit of money in that you don't have to pay the mileage and lodging for all the witnesses," Swingle said. "The only expense is motel rooms for the jurors."

Patterson's next appearance in court will be Jan. 19. By that time, Swingle said, the prosecution and defense should be ready to file any pretrial motions and both sides may be in a position to set the case for trial. Swingle said the prosecution could make a decision by then as whether the state will seek the death penalty.

Patterson is charged with three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action and a single count each of burglary and attempted arson. Patterson is accused of entering the home owned by Michelle R. Lawrence, 39, and her estranged husband, John Lawrence, on Oct. 27 and fatally shooting Jamie Lynn and Derrick Orman in the residence at 1224 Missouri Ave.

Michelle Lawrence is accused of conspiracy for working with Patterson on a plan to murder John Lawrence and collect as much as $400,000 in insurance payouts. Michelle Lawrence is due in court on Jan. 4.

A third suspect, Samuel R. "Ray Ray" Hughes, 25, is accused of three counts of second-degree murder, burglary and attempted arson. His preliminary hearing is scheduled at 9 a.m. today in front of Associate Circuit Judge Gary Kamp in Cape Girardeau County.

bblackwell@semissourian.com

388-3628

Pertinent addresses:

1224 Missouri Ave., Cape Girardeau, MO

1 Barton Square, Jackson, MO