Witnesses: Evans had no idea murder planned

Glen Scott Evans had no idea he was about to become an accessory to murder when he gave Matt Cook a ride to Advance, Mo., two witnesses testified Wednesday.

Evans, 46, of Dexter, Mo., is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the Feb. 19, 2013, shooting death of Sean Crow, 34, outside a fast-food restaurant in Advance.

Cook is accused of firing the fatal shot, but Evans is accused of facilitating Crow's death by driving Cook to Advance, dropping him off behind the restaurant and then waiting for him across the street before taking him back to Dexter.

On Wednesday, the second day of Evans' trial, Stoddard County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney Russell Oliver showed the jury a video of two Missouri State Highway Patrol investigators interviewing Evans for nearly two hours the night of Cook's arrest.

During the interview, Evans initially insisted he had not driven Cook anywhere, telling Sgt. Scott Stoelting he did not drive at all because he had too many previous driving while intoxicated charges.

Stoelting told Evans his story did not match Cook's.

"You tell us the truth, the same story Matt tells us, you're good to go," Stoelting said.

More than 30 minutes into the interview, Evans finally admitted he had taken Cook to Advance.

Evans said Cook did not tell him exactly what he was planning.

"He never really said he was going to shoot the guy, but he had a pistol," Evans said. "He said he was going to take care of some business."

Several times during the interview, Evans said he did not believe Cook really would shoot Crow.

"I've heard a hundred thousand guys that said … 'I will kill that [expletive].' … I didn't know he was really going to do that," he said. "I thought maybe a good pistol-whipping. I just knew there was a beef."

Evans told the investigators he regretted running from police when they came to his home to question him after Cook's arrest.

"I was absolutely freaked out, because I knew that this [interview] was going to take place. … I wish I hadn't have run, because it makes you look guilty when you run," he said.

Evans' friend Brent Montgomery said he saw Evans before and after the trip to Advance.

Cook and Evans invited Montgomery to join them, but he declined because he was on the telephone, arguing with his ex-girlfriend, he said.

When the men returned to Dexter, Evans "looked like he just saw a ghost," Montgomery said.

"He looked shocked, pale, kind of a glazed-over look, like he'd seen something he'd never seen before," he said.

Montgomery asked Evans what was going on.

"I asked him what was wrong … and he said, 'I think he just shot somebody,'" Montgomery said.

He said Cook admitted to the shooting, then put a gun to Montgomery's head and threatened to kill him if he told anybody.

Montgomery said Evans did not know what Cook had in mind when the two men went to Advance.

"He gave him a ride. I knew Scott didn't know anything about it," he said.

Beth O'Neal, who lived with Evans at the time of the shooting, gave a similar testimony.

"He didn't have any knowledge of it," she said.

O'Neal said she, Montgomery and Evans spent the afternoon and evening of Feb. 19, 2013, with Cook.

She said her memories of the evening were "fuzzy" because she had been drinking and taking Xanax, supplied by Cook, but between 5:30 and 6 p.m., she heard Cook ask Evans for a ride.

"As far as I remember, Matt wanted Scott to give him a ride somewhere to talk to some people and take care of business," she said.

The next day, Evans told her Cook -- who had been fighting with his girlfriend -- was down on his luck and needed to stay with them, O'Neal said.

Cook ended up staying with the couple until his arrest Feb. 23 in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Over the next few days, Evans seemed "a little bummed out … like something was on his mind," O'Neal said.

When she asked him about it, Evans told her he was worried about Cook. She said she assumed his concern stemmed from Cook's recent problems with his girlfriend.

After Cook's arrest, Evans told O'Neal about the murder, she said.

"He never said that he was involved," O'Neal said. "He said that Matt had shot the guy."

Crime-scene investigators who testified Wednesday confirmed no physical evidence was found connecting Evans to Crow's truck or to the murder weapon.

Testimony in the case -- which is in Cape Girardeau on a change of venue from Stoddard County -- will continue today.

Circuit Judge William Syler said Evans is a persistent misdemeanor offender, making him ineligible for jury sentencing if he is convicted.

Court records provided by Syler show Evans pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge in 2012 in Butler County, Mo., and a misdemeanor drug paraphernalia charge in 2008 in Wayne County, Mo.

The jury has three options: acquittal; first-degree murder; or second-degree murder as a result of assault and/or robbery.

If convicted of first-degree murder, Evans automatically will receive a life sentence without the possibility of parole, Syler said.

If he is convicted of the lesser charges, Syler could sentence him to as little as 10 years.

Cook's case, which is being heard in Dunklin County, Mo., is set for trial in December.

epriddy@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

Advance, Mo.