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A woman who was intimate with Hannibal murder suspect C. Duane Pettey while he was engaged to the victim testified Monday that the defendant discussed plans for the killing and confessed to the crime.
The 40-year-old suspect is charged with first-degree murder in the April 15 shooting death of 32-year-old Sandra M. Fugate just two days before they were to be married.
Rebecca Kirk of Frankford testified at a preliminary hearing Monday that Pettey told her he had killed Fugate and asked her to dispose of the weapon and clothing.
Kirk, who said she knew the suspect from high school but had gotten reacquainted and started a sexual relationship after seeing his name on Facebook in February, outlined three scenarios she said Pettey discussed with her.
In the first, Kirk claimed Pettey told her she could use the defense of “plausible deniability” if anyone asked her about his plan because he would not provide her with details.
In the second, Kirk says Pettey wanted her to shoot him in the leg and stomach after he shot Fugate to make the crime look like an attempted burglary.
Kirk said the third scenario involved her sending anonymous threatening letters urging Pettey to avoid marrying Fugate. Kirk was then supposed to wound Pettey and scare off Fugate.
“I couldn’t do it,” Kirk testified. “The neighbor came home and (Pettey) said that would screw everything up.”
Kirk claimed Pettey admitted to the shooting during a return trip to Hannibal from Columbia on April 15.
“He asked me what I would do if he went to the extreme to be with me,” Kirk said. “I asked him what he meant, and he said he had killed her.”
Kirk said Pettey got the .22 rifle from her husband’s house and that he had practiced shooting at soda pop cans.
She testified Pettey gave her a white box containing the gun and a garbage bag with clothing and told her to get rid of them.
Hannibal police detective Seth McBride, officer Jordan McAdams and Marion County Coroner Peggy Porter also testified.
Fugate’s mother, Mary Patterson, found the body in the basement of the home Fugate shared with Pettey at 3611 Iowa Ave.
McAdams testified he found Fugate “motionless” in the basement of the house with a pool of coagulated blood.
McBride said Fugate had four wounds -- two in a cheek, one under an ear and one under an arm.
Pettey was arrested without incident at 5:02 p.m. April 16.
He did not take the stand Monday and sat quietly in an orange jail suit with wrist and ankle shackles during the 65-minute hearing.
After hearing Kirk’s testimony, Public Defender Todd Schulze told Judge John Jackson that Kirk had “knowledge” and “opportunity” to commit the crime.
“There just doesn’t seem to be enough evidence that Duane Pettey carried out this murder,” Schulze said.
Jackson didn’t buy it, ordering Pettey bound over to circuit court. The defendant is expected to enter a plea at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Both Schulze and Marion County Prosecuting Attorney Tom Redington declined to comment afterward. Kirk has not been charged.
Brenda Dorsey, who identified herself as a friend of Fugate, said she and others have been left with too many questions.
“Why?” Dorsey said. “She was happy. She was such a loving person. She would do anything for anyone.”
Another woman who attended the hearing was more blunt.
“I think he ought to f------ burn,” said the woman, who did not identify herself.
Pettey is in the Marion County Jail on $1 million cash-only bond.
A woman who was intimate with Hannibal murder suspect C. Duane Pettey while he was engaged to the victim testified Monday that the defendant discussed plans for the killing and confessed to the crime.
The 40-year-old suspect is charged with first-degree murder in the April 15 shooting death of 32-year-old Sandra M. Fugate just two days before they were to be married.
Rebecca Kirk of Frankford testified at a preliminary hearing Monday that Pettey told her he had killed Fugate and asked her to dispose of the weapon and clothing.
Kirk, who said she knew the suspect from high school but had gotten reacquainted and started a sexual relationship after seeing his name on Facebook in February, outlined three scenarios she said Pettey discussed with her.
In the first, Kirk claimed Pettey told her she could use the defense of “plausible deniability” if anyone asked her about his plan because he would not provide her with details.
In the second, Kirk says Pettey wanted her to shoot him in the leg and stomach after he shot Fugate to make the crime look like an attempted burglary.
Kirk said the third scenario involved her sending anonymous threatening letters urging Pettey to avoid marrying Fugate. Kirk was then supposed to wound Pettey and scare off Fugate.
“I couldn’t do it,” Kirk testified. “The neighbor came home and (Pettey) said that would screw everything up.”
Kirk claimed Pettey admitted to the shooting during a return trip to Hannibal from Columbia on April 15.
“He asked me what I would do if he went to the extreme to be with me,” Kirk said. “I asked him what he meant, and he said he had killed her.”
Kirk said Pettey got the .22 rifle from her husband’s house and that he had practiced shooting at soda pop cans.
She testified Pettey gave her a white box containing the gun and a garbage bag with clothing and told her to get rid of them.
Hannibal police detective Seth McBride, officer Jordan McAdams and Marion County Coroner Peggy Porter also testified.
Fugate’s mother, Mary Patterson, found the body in the basement of the home Fugate shared with Pettey at 3611 Iowa Ave.
McAdams testified he found Fugate “motionless” in the basement of the house with a pool of coagulated blood.
McBride said Fugate had four wounds -- two in a cheek, one under an ear and one under an arm.
Pettey was arrested without incident at 5:02 p.m. April 16.
He did not take the stand Monday and sat quietly in an orange jail suit with wrist and ankle shackles during the 65-minute hearing.
After hearing Kirk’s testimony, Public Defender Todd Schulze told Judge John Jackson that Kirk had “knowledge” and “opportunity” to commit the crime.
“There just doesn’t seem to be enough evidence that Duane Pettey carried out this murder,” Schulze said.
Jackson didn’t buy it, ordering Pettey bound over to circuit court. The defendant is expected to enter a plea at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Both Schulze and Marion County Prosecuting Attorney Tom Redington declined to comment afterward. Kirk has not been charged.
Brenda Dorsey, who identified herself as a friend of Fugate, said she and others have been left with too many questions.
“Why?” Dorsey said. “She was happy. She was such a loving person. She would do anything for anyone.”
Another woman who attended the hearing was more blunt.
“I think he ought to f------ burn,” said the woman, who did not identify herself.
Pettey is in the Marion County Jail on $1 million cash-only bond.
