Scott City murder suspect arraigned

The teen accused of killing a 45-year-old Kelso, Mo., man was arraigned Thursday afternoon before Circuit Judge David A. Dolan.

Marcus A. Bowers, 18, of Scott City, appearing by video arraignment in the Scott County courtroom, entered a plea of not guilty for the charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action.

Bowers allegedly murdered Stanley Frank Hagan on Sept. 23 by slamming the man's head against a mobile home tie-down stake, according to the grand jury indictment.

Bowers requested a change of judge, sending the case to the Supreme Court so a new judge can be appointed. No court date will be set until a new judge can be assigned.

The investigation by the Scott City Police Department into the alleged murder went on in secret for months before the grand jury indictment Jan. 3, to keep from tipping off Bowers and to protect witnesses.

Bowers has been in custody in the Scott County Jail since December, when he was charged with child molestation in connection with allegedly engaging in sexual relations with a 14-year-old girl.

Hagan died five days after the alleged altercation with Bowers, following two emergency surgeries, at Saint Francis Medical Center. Hagan's sister, Susan Koerber, said his death was a direct result of the head injuries he sustained.

Authorities have not released many details about the events that led to Hagan's death, other than those contained in the indictments against Bowers.

One anonymous source close to people who live in the trailer where the alleged murder took place said Bowers brought Hagan to the home, and after an altercation inside, Hagan was kicked out. The source said Bowers then followed Hagan outside the mobile home, where the alleged murder occurred. Neither Hagan nor Bowers lived at the home, the source said.

Hagan was not the type to constantly get in fights or cause trouble, said Marilyn Schmidt, a former girlfriend of the victim, and the mother of his child.

"He had a hard life, but he was calming down and trying to do better," she said.

Hagan's 12-year-old son said he'll miss watching football and fishing with his dad. He received his father's guitar after Hagan died and has been learning to play the instrument, Schmidt said.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

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