Doniphan woman sentenced for role in 2010 deaths

UNION, Mo. — A Doniphan woman was sentenced Friday morning to three additional 20-year terms in prison for her role in connection with the 2010 deaths of two elderly couples whose bodies were found in their burned homes.

Youngblood

Chantale Youngblood, 26, appeared before Presiding Circuit Judge Gael Wood in Franklin County for final sentencing after having testified in January against her former boyfriend, Keith A. Boyles.

Boyles, 26, stood trial in Butler County before Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett on four Class A felonies of first-degree murder and four unclassified felonies of armed criminal action (ACA).

Pritchett found Boyles guilty as charged of the murder and ACA charges in connection to the deaths of Loyd Eugene Piatt, 77, and Gladys Irene Piatt, 80, on June 23, 2010, and Edgar Atkinson, 81, and Bonnie Chase, 69, on July 10, 2010, by shooting them. His sentencing is set for May 1-2.

During the three-day trial Pritchett heard nearly 12 hours of testimony from 19 witnesses for the state and defense and a total of about 200 exhibits were admitted into evidence.

Youngblood was among the witnesses for the state.

During Youngblood’s testimony, she confirmed she pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree murder and was sentenced to one 20-year prison sentence. Sentencing on the remaining counts was deferred at that time.

When Youngblood entered her plea in July 2013, the state recommended concurrent 20-year sentences on each count as part of her plea negotiations.

That sentencing recommendation, according to the plea petition filed with the court, was contingent upon Youngblood’s “truthful testimony” in the state’s prosecution of Boyles for his alleged role in the crimes.

“She was sentenced to 20 years on the three remaining counts of murder in the second degree,” according to a court official. “All of those sentences are to run concurrently with one another and concurrently with the 20-year sentence she is currently serving.”

Already are serving sentences in the Missouri Department of Corrections for their roles in the murders are Youngblood’s parents.

A Shannon County jury convicted Youngblood’s mother, Melissa “Lisa” Youngblood, of two Class A felonies of first-degree murder in connection with Atkinson and Chase’s death in January 2013. The now 41-year-old is serving concurrent life sentences and is not eligible for probation or parole.

In June 2012, her father, David Youngblood, now 54, pleaded guilty as charged to the four Class A felonies of first-degree murder. He is serving consecutive life sentences on each charge and is not eligible for probation or parole.

The Youngbloods, their then 17-year-old daughter and Boyles initially were charged in connection with the deaths of Atkinson and Chase, who were found in their burning Current View home.

An autopsy determined Atkinson died of gunshot wounds to the head and upper torso. A cause of death for Chase was not immediately known.

The father and daughter, as well as Boyles, subsequently also were charged with killing the Piatts, who were David Youngblood’s aunt and uncle. The Piatts were found dead inside their rural Doniphan home June 23, 2010.

While authorities initially thought the couple had died of smoke inhalation, they became suspicious when David Youngblood was among those arrested in connection with the deaths of Atkinson and Chase.

After the Youngbloods and Boyles were charged in connection with the couple’s deaths, the investigation into the Piatts’ deaths was re-opened.

As part of that investigation, the Piatts’ bodies were exhumed, so autopsies could be performed to determine how they died. Both reportedly had been shot in the chest.

Testimony from Melissa Youngblood’s January 2013 trial indicated David Youngblood wanted Boyles and his daughter to “kill the Piatts and burn their house” as a “trial run” because “he wanted people to help him” rob banks.

A witness said David Youngblood wanted to make sure Boyles and his daughter could commit the crime, and he dropped the then teenagers off near the Piatts’ home. Boyles allegedly was armed with a 9mm handgun.

Using gasoline found at the Piatt home, the teens then allegedly set the house on fire.

Additional testimony indicated Atkinson and Chase’s subsequent deaths were “another trial run” for the bigger plan David Youngblood and others hoped to carry out.

Similar testimony also was presented during Boyles’ recent trial.