SCOTT CITY MAN'S TRIAL PUT OFF

OTTAWA, Ill. -- Scheduling of a murder trial for a Scott City, Mo., man was put off again Friday, the LaSalle County state's attorney's office said.

Richard Meyer's case will be brought before a judge again in February as lawyers continue to hammer out details.

Meyer faces two counts of first-degree murder, one count of concealing a homicide and one count of criminal damage to property in connection with the July 11 death of Ernestina M. Hinojosa, 43, of Kennewick, Wash.

Both Meyer's and Hinojosa's families say they look forward to a conclusion.

Anna Marie Urhahn, Meyer's mother, said her son is very depressed.

"He says how he is ashamed and sorry," said Urhahn, who has spoken with Meyer every few weeks since the killing. "But he says sorry don't bring this lady back alive."

Meyer's two older children live with Urhahn, just as they have for almost 10 years since Meyer divorced his first wife. He talks to the 10- and 14-year-old boys when he calls, Urhahn said.

Details of the homicide have been especially hard on the two boys, who have missed school and received counseling.

Meyer is being kept in a cell where jailers can constantly observe him, since suicide is a risk, Urhahn said. She has only gone to Ottawa to visit him once.

"I hardly recognized him," she said. "It was like looking at a different person."

Meyer doesn't talk much about the dismemberment of Hinojosa following her murder, Urhahn said.

The Hinojosa family was initially shocked when they learned the prosecutor won't pursue either the death penalty or life imprisonment for the 42-year-old Meyer.

"It's obvious that the statutes in Illinois are much different than here," said Pete Hinojosa, one of the victim's 11 siblings.

Since the actual murder of Ernestina Hinojosa was not "heinous" by Illinois statutes, the state's attorney can only seek a maximum punishment of 20 to 60 years in prison.

In the worst scenario, the Hinojosa family expected the prosecutor to request life imprisonment, Pete said. The majority of his family was against the death penalty from the beginning, he said.

"Some of us felt that it was morally wrong," Pete said.

"Our biggest fear is that he will end up on the streets again," Pete said. "That he stay in prison is what we're hoping and praying for."