A Hannibal murder suspect reportedly told police that jealousy drove him to kill his former lover and a man she knew from high school.
Manuel G. Cazares, 32, is charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the Feb. 28 stabbing deaths of 27-year-old Amanda R. Thomas and 25-year-old Carl Patrick Epley.
Court records show that in a voluntary statement to police, Cazares confessed to the killings and told investigators after being read his rights that “It is my fault.”
Police said Cazares also described what he claimed happened in the hours leading up to the crime.
Thomas had three orders of protection against Cazares, with whom she had a child in August 2007.
Thomas did not show up for the first court hearing and asked that the second case be dismissed. She was murdered before a hearing could be held on the third order.
In his statement to police, Cazares claimed that he stayed with Thomas and their son at Thomas’ Starlight Ridge apartment on Feb. 26 at her invitation and that she told Cazares she loved him.
Thomas invited Cazares to return the night of Feb. 27 and saw him that day when she picked up food from the restaurant where Cazares worked, he told police.
At about 7 that night, Cazares claimed Thomas called and said she was going to Monroe City and would contact him later.
Cazares said he called Thomas when he got off work about 11:30 p.m. He claimed a friend then told him that Thomas had been seen at a Hannibal bar with a friend.
Cazares told police he was angered and that he tried to call Thomas, but got no answer.
At around 6 a.m., Cazares said he went to Thomas’ unlocked apartment and found her in bed asleep with Epley.
He told police he looked to make sure his son wasn’t in another room, then went to the kitchen and got a large knife before returning to the bedroom.
Cazares said he stabbed Epley first and then Thomas, but didn’t remember how many wounds he inflicted.
Cazares then took Thomas’ car and said he had thoughts of suicide, but didn’t follow through because he hoped to see his mother again.
Cazares’ former boss also has said the suspect called him that morning. Cazares told authorities that he briefly returned to Thomas’ apartment and saw that she had fallen onto the bedroom floor.
Cazares turned himself in at Hannibal police headquarters at 9:48 a.m. and directed officers to the apartment. There was blood on his shirt and shoes, police noted.
Autopsies have been done, but information has not been released.
Also during questioning, investigators said Cazares admitted he was an illegal immigrant.
Cazares and Thomas met in 2006 when they worked at adjoining Hannibal businesses. The suspect told authorities the relationship ended last fall.
Court records show Cazares had several run-ins with the law, but always provided what appeared to be legitimate identification. The documents later proved to be fakes.
Hannibal police arrested Cazares for assaulting Thomas with his fists on Dec. 22, 2007, and for property damage at Thomas’ apartment on Feb. 22, 2008.
Cazares began serving two years of probation in the property damage case on Feb. 29, 2008. An order requiring him to pay $314.50 in court costs and $174 in restitution was completed by June 2008.
Police arrested Cazares again on Feb. 10 of this year for allegedly violating the third order of protection by harassing Thomas on the telephone.
In an earlier interview, Thomas’ mother, Jolene Schaubroeck, said Cazares was “insanely jealous” and physically abused her daughter.
In his statement to police, Cazares claimed he was afraid to contact Thomas after the third protection order was issued last year, but that Thomas called him several times.
On Friday, Judge John Jackson set a preliminary hearing in the murder case for 1:30 p.m. April 27.
Cazares appeared in the Hannibal courtroom by video link from the Marion County Jail in Palmyra, where he is being held on $1 million cash-only bond. He has not entered a plea.
Public Defender Todd Schulze, who is representing Cazares, was not in court due to illness. Marion County Prosecuting Attorney Tom Redington declined to comment.
Epley was a chef at the Rustic Oak Cabin in Perry and Thomas was attending nursing classes in Quincy, Ill. Both were graduates of Monroe City R-1 High School.
Thomas’ son with Cazares and her other child are staying with family members. Epley also had a son.
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A Hannibal murder suspect reportedly told police that jealousy drove him to kill his former lover and a man she knew from high school.
Manuel G. Cazares, 32, is charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the Feb. 28 stabbing deaths of 27-year-old Amanda R. Thomas and 25-year-old Carl Patrick Epley.
Court records show that in a voluntary statement to police, Cazares confessed to the killings and told investigators after being read his rights that “It is my fault.”
Police said Cazares also described what he claimed happened in the hours leading up to the crime.
Thomas had three orders of protection against Cazares, with whom she had a child in August 2007.
Thomas did not show up for the first court hearing and asked that the second case be dismissed. She was murdered before a hearing could be held on the third order.
In his statement to police, Cazares claimed that he stayed with Thomas and their son at Thomas’ Starlight Ridge apartment on Feb. 26 at her invitation and that she told Cazares she loved him.
Thomas invited Cazares to return the night of Feb. 27 and saw him that day when she picked up food from the restaurant where Cazares worked, he told police.
At about 7 that night, Cazares claimed Thomas called and said she was going to Monroe City and would contact him later.
Cazares said he called Thomas when he got off work about 11:30 p.m. He claimed a friend then told him that Thomas had been seen at a Hannibal bar with a friend.
Cazares told police he was angered and that he tried to call Thomas, but got no answer.
At around 6 a.m., Cazares said he went to Thomas’ unlocked apartment and found her in bed asleep with Epley.
He told police he looked to make sure his son wasn’t in another room, then went to the kitchen and got a large knife before returning to the bedroom.
Cazares said he stabbed Epley first and then Thomas, but didn’t remember how many wounds he inflicted.
Cazares then took Thomas’ car and said he had thoughts of suicide, but didn’t follow through because he hoped to see his mother again.
Cazares’ former boss also has said the suspect called him that morning. Cazares told authorities that he briefly returned to Thomas’ apartment and saw that she had fallen onto the bedroom floor.
Cazares turned himself in at Hannibal police headquarters at 9:48 a.m. and directed officers to the apartment. There was blood on his shirt and shoes, police noted.
Autopsies have been done, but information has not been released.
Also during questioning, investigators said Cazares admitted he was an illegal immigrant.
Cazares and Thomas met in 2006 when they worked at adjoining Hannibal businesses. The suspect told authorities the relationship ended last fall.
Court records show Cazares had several run-ins with the law, but always provided what appeared to be legitimate identification. The documents later proved to be fakes.
Hannibal police arrested Cazares for assaulting Thomas with his fists on Dec. 22, 2007, and for property damage at Thomas’ apartment on Feb. 22, 2008.
Cazares began serving two years of probation in the property damage case on Feb. 29, 2008. An order requiring him to pay $314.50 in court costs and $174 in restitution was completed by June 2008.
Police arrested Cazares again on Feb. 10 of this year for allegedly violating the third order of protection by harassing Thomas on the telephone.
In an earlier interview, Thomas’ mother, Jolene Schaubroeck, said Cazares was “insanely jealous” and physically abused her daughter.
In his statement to police, Cazares claimed he was afraid to contact Thomas after the third protection order was issued last year, but that Thomas called him several times.
On Friday, Judge John Jackson set a preliminary hearing in the murder case for 1:30 p.m. April 27.
Cazares appeared in the Hannibal courtroom by video link from the Marion County Jail in Palmyra, where he is being held on $1 million cash-only bond. He has not entered a plea.
Public Defender Todd Schulze, who is representing Cazares, was not in court due to illness. Marion County Prosecuting Attorney Tom Redington declined to comment.
Epley was a chef at the Rustic Oak Cabin in Perry and Thomas was attending nursing classes in Quincy, Ill. Both were graduates of Monroe City R-1 High School.
Thomas’ son with Cazares and her other child are staying with family members. Epley also had a son.
