KENNETT, Mo. — The charges recently were dismissed against a Malden woman who could have faced the death penalty had she been convicted in connection to the 2016 death of a man killed in an apparent attempted robbery.
Brianna L. Bonaparte was supposed to appear Feb. 27 before Presiding Circuit Judge Robert Mayer for a hearing in her case.
The 24-year-old was charged with Class A felonies of first-degree murder and first-degree robbery and two unclassified felonies of armed criminal action in connection with the Sept. 8, 2016, shooting death of Walter S. Lee.
The 39-year-old was found lying in the backyard of a residence in the 700 block of North Kimball Street.
On Feb. 27, the state, represented by Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Nicholas Jain, dismissed the charges against Bonaparte without prejudice and not pursuant to any agreement with the woman’s attorneys with the Capital Public Defender’s Office.
Bonaparte was being represented by the Capital Division after the state filed its intentions to seek the death penalty against her in 2017.
“Based on the current evidence, the charges weren’t supported by probable cause as the charges against the other codefendant, Larry Thornton, were dismissed in 2017,” explained Jain, who took over as prosecutor in January.
Thornton, who allegedly was involved in the crime by Bonaparte’s brother, was facing the same offenses as Bonaparte, having been charged at the same time as she was; however, the Portageville man’s case was dismissed in late July 2017.
The prosecutor’s office, Jain said, continues to work with area law enforcement agencies to “solve this murder and hold those responsible accountable.”
There is no statute of limitations on murder.
“Ms. Bonaparte pled guilty to possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to the (Missouri) Department of Corrections,” Jain said.
Bonaparte pleaded guilty to the Class C felony on Feb. 27 and was sentenced to three years in prison.
The drug charge stemmed from the investigation into Lee’s death.
Bonaparte’s murder case “was dismissed without prejudice” and was “not (part) of the plea agreement,” Jain explained. “It could be recharged if ever any new evidence is found.”
According to earlier reports, the Dunklin County Major Case Squad was activated to investigate Lee’s death. Lee, who reportedly died as the result of gunshot wounds, was found under a vehicle in the backyard.
During the investigation, officers learned Bonaparte was present at the residence at the time of the shooting and had removed a large amount of suspected marijuana inside the home before authorities arrived.
Bonaparte subsequently was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance.
While Bonaparte was in jail, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol Cpl. C.D. Hamlett’s probable-cause statement, investigators learned she had spoken to a fellow inmate “concerning her role in Lee’s homicide.”
“(The inmate) stated that she was incarcerated when Bonaparte was brought into her pod” and later “noticed Bonaparte was visibly upset and cried frequently,” Hamlett said.
The woman, he said, reported she had spoken with Bonaparte during their incarceration.
“Bonaparte told (the woman) that she had been dating Lee,” Hamlett said. “(She) said Bonaparte told her that her (Bonaparte’s) brother owed Lee an unknown amount of money.
“She said Bonaparte notified her brother of Lee’s whereabouts on the night of the homicide.”
Bonaparte allegedly told the woman her brother had “indicated he was going to rob Lee of drugs and money” and had enlisted the help of others to “take part in the robbery,” Hamlett said.
The woman, according to Hamlett, reported Bonaparte told her she had been in front of Lee’s residence when her brother and the others arrived and an altercation allegedly ensued.
“During the altercation, several shots were fired, with the altercation ultimately ending up in the side yard of the residence,” Hamlett said. “Bonaparte told (her cell mate) she heard multiple gunshots being fired.”
Hamlett said Lee was struck numerous times during the gunfire. Emergency personnel were unable to resuscitate Lee.
Bonaparte’s cellmate reported to investigators that “Bonaparte stated she was responsible for Lee’s death,” Hamlett said.