SCOTT BIGGS WILL PLEAD GUILTY A JULY 5 COURT DATE, ATTORNEY SAYS

BENTON, Mo. -- A Scott City, Mo., man charged in the death of a 57-year-old woman will plead guilty when he next appears in court, his attorney said.

Charles "Scott" Biggs will plead guilty to second-degree murder when he appears in court July 5, said attorney Stephen Wilson of Cape Girardeau.

"It'll be an open plea," Wilson said. "That means he'll get 10 to 30 years or life."

Biggs, 31, and his cousin, 36-year-old Gary Wayne Biggs, were charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with the death of Willie Mae Vasquez of Scott City.

Vasquez's body was discovered Aug. 9 after Scott Biggs came to the Scott City Police Department at an investigator's request and gave details about the killing.

His confession allowed officers to find Vasquez's body in a shallow grave near the Mississippi River in Scott County.

Wilson has made no agreements with prosecutors regarding the plea, so it is possible that his client could receive the maximum penalty, the attorney said.

Scott County Judge David Dolan said that he had set a sentencing date for Scott Biggs in July when the defendant appeared in court Thursday, but he was unaware of any decisions from attorneys regarding a plea.

"I expect him to enter a plea of guilty, but I don't know if that is actually what will happen," Dolan said.

Sentencing typically occurs about 40 days following a guilty plea, Wilson said, but in Scott Biggs' case that should be extended.

Cousin's trial Oct. 22

His cousin will face first-degree murder charges in a jury trial scheduled for Oct. 22 in Pulaski County.

Wilson anticipates that Scott Biggs' sentence will follow the trial.

"It's not odd for the state to delay sentencing to make sure someone testifies truthfully in another matter," Wilson said.

In his cousin's preliminary hearing in November, Scott Biggs said he had talked about killing Vasquez with Gary Biggs while they were fishing and drinking on July 26.

He had a romantic relationship with Vasquez, Scott Biggs told the court, and was afraid his girlfriend would find out.

After taking a hatchet from a relative's house, the cousins invited Vasquez to come with them to the river to fish. Gary Biggs struck Vasquez several times in the head with the hatchet, and threatened to kill his cousin if he didn't hit her, Scott Biggs said at the hearing.