Suspects face additional charges in Cape Girardeau murder

The two men accused of murder in the Cape Girardeau shooting deaths of a pregnant woman and her son early Tuesday now also face attempted arson charges.

Ryan T. Patterson, 28, and Samuel R. "Ray Ray" Hughes, 25, were given the additional charge Friday by Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle.

According to police accounts of the plot that ended with the deaths of Jamie Lynn Orman, 30, and Derrick Orman, 15, at 1224 N. Missouri Ave., Patterson went to the home intent on killing John Lawrence and setting the house ablaze. Hughes went along at the urging of Patterson to burglarize the house and act as lookout, documents filed with the charges show.

Samuel Hughes

The charge added Friday, which carries a potential penalty of five to 15 years in prison, is in addition to the murder and burglary charges each faces. The pair is accused of bringing a can of gasoline to the home, Swingle said Friday. The gasoline was left in the home, and no fire was set.

Patterson lived in a south Cape Girardeau apartment at 921 Hackberry St. with Michelle R. Lawrence, 39, the estranged wife of John Lawrence. She faces a single count of conspiracy to commit first degree murder, with a possible penalty of five to 15 years in prison.

Swingle accuses Lawrence of planning with Patterson to murder John Lawrence, who was trying to divorce her. John Lawrence and Michelle Lawrence jointly own the home at 1224 N. Missouri Ave., and she is accused of wanting him dead to collect a life insurance payout and for Patterson to burn the home so she could collect insurance on it as well.

Ryan Patterson and Samuel Hughes

Patterson is charged with three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action, a single count of burglary and the attempted arson. If convicted, he could receive the death penalty.

Hughes is charged with three counts of second-degree murder, a single count of burglary plus the attempted arson. He faces a possible sentence of life in prison if convicted.

Jamie Orman was seven months pregnant. One of the murder charges is for the death of the unborn child. The charges allege Patterson shot Jamie Orman and her son Derrick while they lay in their beds in the basement of the home.

All three suspects are being held at the Cape Girardeau County Jail. Bond for Patterson is $750,000. Bond for Hughes has been set at $500,000, and Michelle Lawrence has a bond of $250,000.

The funeral for the Ormans will be at 1 p.m. today at Miller Family Funeral Home in Perryville, Mo.

rkeller@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

1224 N. Missouri Ave., Cape Girardeau, MO

829 W. St. Joseph St., Perryville, MO