PB man now charged with first-degree murder in girlfriend's death

GREENVILLE — The charges against a Poplar Bluff man accused of the October shooting death of his girlfriend have been upgraded to first-degree murder.

Bobbie Leroy Aden, aka Bobbie Adam, of the 300 block of Helen Avenue, originally was charged with the Class A felony of second-degree murder and the unclassified felony of armed criminal action (ACA).

The 54-year-old is accused of the Oct. 22 death of Lelena Kay Guard, 52, of Poplar Bluff. Guard died from multiple gunshot wounds allegedly fired by Aden inside a camper trailer on County Road 522A at Wappapello.

Assistant Attorney General Christine Krug filed an amended compliant with the court last week, charging Aden with the Class A felony of first-degree murder and ACA.

The complaint alleges on Oct. 22, Aden “after deliberation knowingly caused the death of Lelena Guard by shooting her ... .”

If convicted of first-degree murder, Aden faces life without the possibility of probation or parole. The death penalty could be considered if the state file aggravating circumstances.

The original complaint had accused Aden of “knowingly causing the death of Lelena Guard by shooting.”

Had Aden been convicted of second-degree murder, he would have faced 10 to 30 years imprisonment or life, which is computed at 30 years. He would have been eligible for parole after serving 85% of his sentence.

Aden is to appear at 1 p.m. Dec. 16 before Associate Circuit Judge Christina Kime for a preliminary hearing in his case.

The charges against Aden stem from an investigation by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Deputies responded just after 1 a.m. Oct. 22 to a citizen report of someone shooting at his Wappapello residence.

The citizen reported the shots had been fired from a camper across the street from his home.

Aden, according to Deputy Jesse Drum’s probable-cause statement, answered the camper door “nude, covered in a red substance I knew to be blood” and armed with what appeared to be a firearm.

Drum said Aden closed the door, then reopened it, exiting the camper with his hands up.

Guard was found inside, on the floor of the camper, and a black semiautomatic pistol lying was found on a refrigerator just inside the door, deputies reported.

Aden, according to Drum, told officers “he shot her twice in the head. Trooper (Shannon) Sitton advised me Bobbie Aden pointed to the right side of the head around the ear when he stated he shot her in the head twice.”