UPDATE: Police Searching for O'Fallon Murder Suspect

Terry Culberson, 63, has been charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action.

Recorded Jail Conversation Shows Reason Murder Victim Was Shot

“I thought he had a gun,” Ron Rico Patton told his co-defendant when asked why he shot the victim. Patton pleaded guilty to the murder and was sentenced last week.

A recorded jailhouse conversation was part of the evidence that would have been used against a man who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last week. Ron Rico Patton, 19, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, first-degree robbery and armed criminal action last week. Patton pleaded guilty to the charges in a deal with St. Charles County prosecutors, who recommended a 24-year sentence in return. Patton would be eligible for parole in 20 years. Police had recorded part of a three-way conversation between Patton, his co-defendant Harvion L. Cameron, of St. Louis, and Cameron’s girlfriend, who was talking to Patton on a cell phone. Cameron was in custody in St. Louis County jail at the time. Harvey asked why Patton, also known as “Tweety…

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Trigger Man Sentenced in Drug Deal-Turned-Murder of Wentzville Man

Ron Rico Patton pleaded guilty in exchange for a 24-year prison sentence.

The St. Louis Post Dispatch reported that Ron Rico Patton, 18, of St. Louis has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for the murder of Daniel Brennan of Wentzville in 2010. Patton said in court that his intention had only been to rob Brennan, but that he had panicked and shot him. In a deal with prosecutors, Patton pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, attempted robbery and armed criminal action. He will be eligible for parole in about 20 years. A Lake Saint Louis-area man, Jeffery D. Lottie, was found guilty of the murder in September and received a life sentence. READ MORE: Guilty Verdict For Conspirator in Wentzville Man's Murder A third man, Harvion L. Cameron of St. Louis, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the same incident …

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Karl Rove's 'Murder' Joke About Todd Akin - Out of Line?

Rep. Todd Akin's office said Karl Rove must have "misspoke" when he reportedly made a "murder" joke about the U.S. Senate candidate. What do you think, a joke or out of line?

According to Politico, in a closed-door fundraiser at the Republican National Convention, Karl Rove reportedly joked about the murder of Missouri GOP Senate candidate Todd Akin. “We should sink Todd Akin. If he’s found mysteriously murdered, don’t look for my whereabouts!” joked Rove, according to a Businessweek report of the fundraiser included in the Politico article. The alleged comment comes after, as previously reported by Patch, Akin, his family and his staff reportedly began receiving threats of death and violence following his comments on "legitimate rape" during a St. Louis area television interview. Friday, in response to the alleged statements by Rove, Akin's office issued the following statement saying Rove must have "misspoke…

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Guilty Verdict For Conspirator in Wentzville Man's Murder

Jeffery Lottie of St. Charles County will be sentenced Aug. 17.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Thursday that Jeffery D. Lottie, 23, was found guilty in the 2010 murder of Daniel Brennan, 23, of Wentzville. Prosecutors say that Lottie lured Brennan to a St. Charles apartment complex for a drug deal. A Post-Dispatch story from June 20 outlined the events of that night. Two St. Louis men were also charged in Brennan's murder. Ron R. Patton Jr., 18, who is accused of shooting Brennan, stands trial in August, and Harvion L. Cameron, 22, was sentenced to 30 years in prison last year. Prosecutors said that Lottie used the same gun three days later during a shooting at Palomino Nights, a Wentzville nightclub that has since changed names. Four people were injured in that shooting. Lottie's address is in a…

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Wentzville Man Pleads Guity To Felony Hindering Prosecution

Robert McPike of Wentzville admitted his part in a Boone County drug deal that resulted in the death of his cousin.

The Next Generation

Permissive Parenting: Path to Prison?

Learn about a teenager and the reckless patch he found himself on.

Matt* was a pretty good kid. He never into much trouble. But I had talked with his grandma on a Sunday about some things that were happening in his life, and the first time that I actually met Matt face to face was through the bars of his county jail cell. I have plenty of experience working with prisoners, even prisoners who were in prison for heinous crimes. But this was the first teen I had ever met accused of first-degree murder. As the guard escorted us to the visitor’s room, Matt shuffled along with his head bowed and shoulders sunken. He had a look of defeat, and the other prisoners could see that as well. That much was evident from the yells and cat calls coming from the other cells. We sat and talked for several hours. He …

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Daily PatchCast: Defendant in St. Charles on Trial in Estranged Wife's Death, Wentzville Voters to be Asked About Tax Levy for Schools and More

A roundup of St. Louis news headlines for Tuesday.

Here are the top stories from Patch sites in your area:

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PatchCast

Daily PatchCast: Body of Missing Woman Found in Bridgeton, Man Guilty of Killing University City Sergeant and More

A roundup of St. Louis news headline for Thursday.

Here are the top stories from Patch sites in your area:

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