It’s been a little more than a year since the death of an 16-year-old during a drug deal in Sedalia, and both men accused of homicide are still awaiting trial.
It took six and a half months for charges to be filed in the July 2015 homicide of Andrew Meyers. Brian J. Young, 35, of the 1400 block of South Ohio Avenue, is charged with second degree murder and attempt to possess a controlled substance. Kenneth S. McGee, 21, of the 700 block of East Ninth Street, is charged with second degree murder, first degree attempted robbery and armed criminal action.
Young was first arrested in connection with the crime just days after it occurred, but was released due to charges not being filed within the 24-hour time period. Pettis County Prosecuting Attorney Phillip Sawyer stayed in contact with the Sedalia Police Department regarding evolving information in the case, ending in the arrest and filing of charges against Young and McGee in February.
When charges were filed, Sawyer told the Democrat SPD was continuing to investigate any additional leads in the case that may have led to other suspects, but SPD Sgt. Kelley Casto said they are no longer investigating the case and all information has been handed over to Sawyer to review.
Since that time, a trial was scheduled for McGee in late July, but both Sawyer and McGee’s attorney, public defender Matthew Mueller, requested a continuance.
“There was a joint request for continuance because we’ve been in discussions about it, there were some discovery issues both sides wanted to meet about,” Sawyer said Tuesday afternoon. “It has been continued to Aug. 23 to either plead or be reset for a new trial date.”
McGee was issued a $100,000 cash-only bond upon his arrest, and remains in the Pettis County Jail.
Young has not been set for trial, but a hearing has been set for Sept. 6, which Sawyer said would likely be to set a trial date.
“Young’s attorney (Myron McNeal) and I have been in discussion and plan to conduct some depositions in the near future, but we’re still in the discovery phase of it,” Sawyer said.
When Young was arrested, he was issued a $100,000 cash-only bond, but received a bond reduction the next day of $25,000 cash or surety, plus $10,000 cash only. Both Young and McGee were indicted by a grand jury March 22. Then on May 16, the court heard arguments on the appropriateness of Young’s bond for a second time, Sawyer said. His bond was then changed to $50,000, cash or surety, removing the cash-only requirement and allowing him to use a bondsman. According to online court records, Shannon Zerilli Bonding posted a surety bond for Young on May 18.
According to a SPD report, officers responded to a report of a gunshot victim outside a residence in the 400 block of North Missouri Avenue the night of Friday, July 24, 2015.
SPD officers found Meyers with a gunshot wound lying near a car. He was taken by the Pettis County Ambulance District to Bothwell Regional Health Center, where he later died from his injuries.
According to court documents, Young contacted a friend about purchasing marijuana. The friend contacted two different people, the second being McGee, who, according to multiple witnesses who were with Young, agreed to sell Young a half pound of marijuana for $2,500.
Later McGee contacted Young’s friend to conduct another transaction at the North Missouri Avenue residence, which was entered by both Young and his friend. Young told detectives a subject asked for his money and pointed what Young believed to be a .22 caliber rifle. Young then drew his own pistol from its holster and “because he believed the subject was going to shoot him, he fired his pistol at the subject one time,” then immediately left the house.
