Region/state digest 05/14/05

Nashville musician to perform at The Mission

Nashville singer/songwriter Joe Pagetta will perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at The Mission, 234 Mill St. in Cape Girardeau.

Man, his mother charged in decades-old murder

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- A man and his mother were charged with murder Thursday in the death more than 23 years ago of his former wife. Michael E. Milbourn Sr., 44, and his mother, Shirley A. Milbourn, 66, both of St. Joseph, were charged in Buchanan County with the second-degree murder of Rhonda Burgess, who was 22 when she disappeared. Both were being held on bonds of $250,000. On Friday, officials found the woman's remains on farmland in Andrew County. Authorities said an anonymous tip led them to the burial site. Investigators said Shirley Milbourn killed Burgess with a shotgun on Nov. 28, 1981, and her son is accused of aiding and abetting her in the killing.

-- From staff, wire reports