VAN BUREN -- An Ellsinore man was ordered Friday afternoon to stand trial for the July shooting death of an acquaintance.
Accompanied by his attorney, Tim Fleener with the Public Defender's Office, Jason Roberts was to appear before Associate Circuit Judge Michael Ligons for a preliminary hearing in his case.
After briefly meeting with Roberts outside of the courtroom, Fleener obtained a waiver form from court personnel and subsequently went over its contents with his client.
Fleener then presented the signed waiver to Ligons.
"You talk to your attorney about this," Ligons asked. " ... You waiving your right to a preliminary hearing?"
Roberts answered yes to each question, just as he did the other questions Ligons asked him.
After accepting Roberts' wavier, Ligons ordered he appear Monday before Presiding Circuit Judge Steven Privette for arraignment.
The 44-year-old is charged with the Class A felony of first-degree murder and the unclassified felony of armed criminal action in connection with the July 17 death of Rudy H. Hernandez. The 34-year-old died from a gunshot wound to the head.
Authorities learned of Hernandez's death at about 12:10 a.m. July 17 when deputies with the Carter County Sheriff's Department and the East Carter Ambulance Services were sent to a home on County Road 327 (Elm Springs Road) in Ellsinore for a reported shooting.
Witnesses identified Roberts, who had a dispute with Hernandez the prior evening, as the alleged shooter and reported he had fled Hernandez's home on foot, armed with a rifle.
An extensive manhunt was conducted by officers with the sheriff's department, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Ellsinore Police Department.
As the search for Roberts continued, officers reportedly followed leads and interviewed/re-interviewed potential witnesses.
After four days on the lam, Roberts turned himself in to deputies and was taken into custody without incident in the Ellsinore area.
Carter County Sheriff Rick Stephens earlier described Roberts as an acquaintance of Hernandez.
Although witnesses reported a prior dispute between the men, no motive has been released for the shooting.