Woman's bond revoked after she contacted witnesses in her case

A Qulin, Missouri, woman accused of conspiring with other family members to kill her stepmother in 1999 was led out of a Butler County courtroom in handcuffs this week after her bond was revoked for failing to abide by the court-ordered condition of having no contact with witnesses in her case.

Accompanied by her attorney, Melissa Jo "Missy" Austin Baggett appeared before Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett after the state filed a motion to revoke her bond.

The 41-year-old is scheduled to stand trial July 16 and 17 for second- or first-degree murder. Both are Class A felonies; if convicted, Baggett could serve 10 to 30 years in prison.

She is among four people charged in connection with the August 1999 death of Carla Ann Austin. Authorities believe the 33-year-old was killed in retaliation by members of her late husband's family, who held her responsible for his earlier death.

Originally held on $500,000 cash or surety bond, Baggett was released April 27, 2012, after her bond was reduced to $100,000 cash or surety.

When Baggett's bond was reduced, the court ordered her to have "no contact with any of the witnesses in the case or their families either directly or indirectly."

On April 9, the Butler County prosecuting attorney's office filed a motion seeking to revoke or increase Baggett's bond. The state based its motion on a statement from a witness, Jane Ham, who reported being harassed by Baggett.