Evans granted new judge, venue

BLOOMFIELD, Mo.--A Dexter man being tried for his involvement in an Advance murder has been granted a change of judge and venue.

Scott Evans was arrested for his role in the Feb. 19, 2013 murder of Sean Crow at an Advance McDonalds.

Evans, who is not believed to have "pulled the trigger," has been, until now, going before the judge alongside co-defendant Matthew Cook.

A preliminary hearing was held on Thursday, June 7 and the pair was bound over to Division one where their cases have been heard by Presiding Judge Robert Mayer.

In late June, Evans' attorney, James McClellan of Sikeston, requested a new judge and venue, and also filed a motion for bond reduction that was subsequently denied.

Mayer sent the case to the Missouri Supreme Court. At that time, Judge William Syler was appointed to hear Evans' case.

Last week, Judge Syler approved the change of venue moving the case to Cape Girardeau County, where Syler presides.

Evans has since been moved to a Cape Girardeau County Jail in Jackson.

No date has yet been set for his first hearing at the new venue.

One of Cook's attorneys, Beth Ann Kerry, on Monday filed change of venue and change of judge motions on Cook's behalf as well.

Mayer has yet to rule on those motions.

Cook and Evans are each charged with one count of the Class A felony of murder in the first degree, one count of the Class A felony of robbery in the first degree, and two counts of the unclassified felony of armed criminal action.

No bond was set for Matthew Cook. A $250,000 cash only bond was set for Scott Evans.

In March, Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russell Oliver announced his intention to seek the death penalty in the case against Cook.

Evans is believed to have driven him to Advance to "take care of some business with a guy." When they arrived, Cook allegedly walked up to the window of Crow's red GMC pickup and shot him.

In the probable cause affidavit filed by Stoddard County Sheriff's Deputy Hank Trout, who led the investigation, Cook is said to have admitted to the shooting of Sean Crow in the parking lot of the McDonald's restaurant in Advance, Mo., on Tuesday, Feb. 19. Video surveillance cameras located at a number of businesses in the area where the shooting took place led authorities to the pair.