Preliminary hearing set in Bernie, Mo., man's killing

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The case against a man and woman charged in a recent Bernie, Mo., killing has been set for a preliminary hearing.

Allen and Angela McCoy, both of Bernie, are each charged with first-degree murder, first-degree robbery and two counts of armed criminal action. According to a recent statement by Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Briney Welborn, both McCoys face the death penalty if convicted.

The McCoys are scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing at 9 a.m. Jan. 7.

Angela McCoy

They are accused of the June 28 murder of 67-year-old Aubrey Lee Finch of Bernie.

An autopsy determined he had died as a result of at least 12 stab wounds to the head and neck.

According to the probable-cause statement filed by Cpl. J. D. Johnson with the Missouri State Water Patrol and assigned to the Stoddard County Major Case Squad on June 28, a witness contacted the New Madrid County Sheriff's Department and reported that Allen McCoy had come to his residence and told him that he had killed a man named Lee in Bernie.

The witness said McCoy claimed to have stabbed an 87-year-old man and robbed him. He also said that McCoy had burned some items in a ditch in front of the witness' house. The report said three other witnesses heard McCoy say he stabbed an old man in Bernie and robbed him.

Both McCoys are still being held in the Stoddard County Jail without bond.