Region/state digest 07/16/03

Flute choir to perform at Cape Muny Band concert

The SEMO Flute Choir will provide the special entertainment tonight at the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band's weekly concert at the Capaha Park Bandshell.

The program will include "Strategic Air Command March," "Britannica Variants," "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers," "The Syncopated Clock," "Rock and Roll Classic," "Big Fan March," "La Bamba de Vera Cruz" and "Selections from South Pacific."

The free concert will begin at 8 p.m. Audience members are invited to bring lawn chairs and blankets.

The band is directed by Ronald Nall.

Trial of baby sitter moved to Carter County

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff woman being charged in connection with the death of a 6-month-old infant is set to face a jury later this year.

Amy Louise Davis, 23, was originally set to stand trial June 26 in Butler County. However, she was granted a change of venue to Carter County, where the new trial date of Dec. 29-30 was set.

"Those were the only available dates on the docket," said Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Barbour.

Last November, an emergency call was placed into the Poplar Bluff Police Department concerning an unresponsive infant. According to the police, Davis had been baby-sitting Starla Hollis when the infant stopped breathing.

Emergency workers were unable to revive the child, who later died in the Three Rivers Healthcare emergency room. An autopsy showed the infant had five broken ribs and suffered from internal bleeding. The pathologist determined that these injuries were the result of blunt trauma.

Police identify man found under motel bed

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Authorities on Tuesday identified the man found under a motel room bed this weekend in Kansas City.

Police said the victim was Edward Vernassie, 59, of Kansas City. His body was found Sunday under a bed's box springs at the Capri Motel, just east of downtown Kansas City.

A man staying in the room had complained about a foul odor for three days before checking out, saying he could no longer tolerate the smell. Cleaning staff found Vernassie's body Sunday morning after lifting the mattress.

Police said the incident is under investigation, but no arrests have been made.

Man in standoff killed by sniper, not grenade

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A man who died during a weekend standoff with police was killed by a bullet from a sharpshooter's rifle, and not the hand grenade that exploded beneath him more than two hours later.

Chad E. Seymour, 26, of Kansas City was shot once in the back around 3:30 a.m. Saturday as he approached an officer with the weapon, its pin pulled. He fell forward and landed on the hand that held the grenade, keeping pressure on its spoon and preventing it from exploding, police said.

Just before 6 a.m., police sent a robot to recover the grenade, but it blew up when Seymour's body was moved. Police said he was upset over a breakup with a girlfriend when he went to the woman's home and threatened her and others with the grenade.

Police are still investigating where Seymour got the grenade.

-- From staff, wire reports