KENNETT, Mo. -- A Malden, Mo., woman was ordered to stand trial Monday afternoon in the death of a man killed in an apparent attempted robbery.
Accompanied by Sharon Turlington and Robert Lundt with the capital division of the Public Defender's Office, Brianna L. Bonaparte, 23, was to appear before Associate Circuit Judge Joe Satterfield for a preliminary hearing on the Class A felonies of first-degree murder and first-degree robbery and two unclassified felonies of armed criminal action.
Instead, Bonaparte waived having a preliminary hearing and Satterfield bound her over to stand trial.
Satterfield also ordered Bonaparte appear at 10 a.m. Feb. 14 before Presiding Circuit Judge Robert Mayer for arraignment.
Bonaparte could face the death penalty if she is convicted of the Sept. 8, 2016, shooting death of Walter S. Lee. The 39-year-old was found lying in the back yard of a residence in the 700 block of North Kimball Street.
Bonaparte, who also is accused of forcibly stealing money from the man, was charged seven months after Lee's death.
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 gunshots wounds, was found under a vehicle in the back yard.
During the investigation, officers learned Bonaparte was present at the residence at the time of the shooting and allegedly 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 cell mate reported to investigators that "Bonaparte stated she was responsible for Lee's death," Hamlett said.