Witness says Brown bragged of finances after killing

WAYNESVILLE, Mo. -- A man accused of kidnapping and killing a Cape Girardeau County man for money bragged about a recent cash windfall and planned to travel the world, according to trial testimony Tuesday.

As few as nine days after the July 7, 2002, slaying of Ralph Lee Lape Jr., 54, Justin Brown was in Show-Me's Restaurant telling acquaintances about his recent car accident settlement, one of the acquaintances told the court. Brown told a group of four men he would use the money to travel the world, Scott McMullen testified during Brown's jury trial.

Brown, 26, of Cape Girardeau, is charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping in Lape's death. Prosecutors accuse Brown and co-defendant Mark Gill, 35, of killing Lape when they learned the victim had a large amount of money.

The pair beat and bound Lape at his home on Highway 177 near Jackson, drove to a cornfield near Por-tageville, Mo., shot him in the head and buried him in a shallow grave, according to Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle.

Gill and Brown then used Lape's credit card and cash from his ATM card at strip clubs, nightclubs and hotels, Swingle said.

On either July 16 or 23, McMullen was out with a friend celebrating the man's birthday at Show Me's when Gill, a passing acquaintance, invited the pair to join him, Brown and a third man. McMullen described Brown, whom he had never met before, as "very upbeat and jovial" during a two-hour conversation.

The witness' description of Brown's demeanor contrasts with testimony from the defendant's roommate about the days around the slaying. Charles Steinkamp, who lived with Brown during the summer of 2002, said that three days before the homicide the defendant had a conversation with Gill in their kitchen. After they finished speaking, Brown seemed panicked, grabbed some clothes and left with Gill, Steinkamp said.

Three to four days later, Gill dropped off Brown at the apartment and grabbed more clothes. According to Steinkamp, the defendant appeared nervous and was acting "skittish." On a following night, Steinkamp said Brown invited him to join him and Gill on a trip to a Paducah, Ky.. hospital to drop off a truck. Steinkamp later learned the truck was Lape's.

Brown eventually admitted to police his role in disposing of the body, murder weapon and truck.

Cape Girardeau police detective Don Perry interviewed Brown on July 30, July 31 and Aug. 1, 2002, the later date being when the defendant admitted to lying to police in previous questionings about his knowledge of Lape's disappearance.

In exchange for Brown's assistance, Swingle promised the defendant would only be charged with misdemeanor tampering with evidence unless he had a role in the death, Perry said.

Brown showed officers where the body was buried and where Gill threw a handgun into the Mississippi River, Perry said.

The deal with Brown was eventually thrown out when investigators learned he had prior knowledge of the plan, Swingle said in opening statements.

A video recording of Brown's statement to police is expected to be played for jurors when the trial resumes at 8:30 a.m. today.

Lape's body was recovered from the corn field Aug. 1. An autopsy determined he died from a gunshot wound to the head, according to forensic pathologist Dr. Russell Deidiker, who added the victim also suffered injuries consistent with being beaten up.

The injuries included a skull fracture unrelated to the gunshot wound, a fractured rib and bruises covering a large area of the chest, Deidiker testified.

Six more witnesses were to testify for the state today, assistant prosecuting attorney Jack Koester said.

Gill was previously convicted on the same charges and sentenced to death. Brown could also get the death penalty.

Brown, who appeared in court wearing khakis and a blue shirt, was being held in lieu of a $2 million bond.

The jury trial began Monday and was being held before Pulaski County Circuit Judge Tracy L. Storie on a change of venue.

kmorrison@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127