Lafferty's mother, ex-wife and daughter testify at bond hearing

Lafferty's mother, ex-wife, daughter testify at bond hearing

By COREY NOLES

Statesman Staff Writer

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A former Stoddard County man accused of hiring a couple who attended a church he pastored to burn his home and kill his wife appeared in court Wednesday.

Donald Lafferty, 69, was arrested Monday, May 12, 2014, in North Andover, Mass., and was charged with the Class B felony of attempted murder, the unclassified felony of armed criminal action, the Class B felony of first-degree arson, and the Class A felony of financial exploitation of the elderly ($50,000 or more.)

Lafferty appeared for arraignment on Monday, May 19, in a Stoddard County court at which time his attorney, Dan Moore, filed a motion requesting that bond be set and that Lafferty be released on his own recognizance.

Because his two chief witnesses were from out-of-state, Judge Joe Z. Satterfield allowed the hearing to take place that day.

After testimony concluded, Prosecuting Attorney Russell Oliver requested and was granted one week to gather his own witnesses for testimony.

The hearing reconvened Wednesday afternoon with testimony from Lafferty's estranged sister, Annette Kay Roberts; his mother, Goldie Lafferty; and his former wife, Mildred Sandage.

Sandage offered an emotional testimony during which she shared with the court why she believes Lafferty should not be released.

"Under the circumstances, what has happened has scared me," she said.

Prior to Lafferty's arrest, Sandage said the two stayed in contact and talked regularly. She testified she "had no idea" of what had happened until she read it in the newspaper.

She told a story of having felt like she was drugged to sleep on the day in January 2013 when she awoke to find her house on fire. The fire was later determined to have been intentionally set.

"I didn't think I was poisoned, more like they put me to sleep," Sandage said.

For months following the fire, she and Lafferty lived together with her daughter from a previous marriage until the fall of 2013 at which time they decided to divorce.

She testified that she would never leave food or drinks unattended in his presence and that once they separated, she always kept her vehicle and house locked.

"I felt like the night of the fire I was drugged," she said. "The good Lord woke me up from the heat of the fire and saved me from the flames."

Sandage said she would be concerned for her safety if Lafferty was released from jail.

Lafferty's sister, Annette Roberts, testified that in addition to the recent alleged theft of money from his mother, Lafferty stole $75,000 from her 10 years prior.

She stated that their mother filed a lawsuit and was eventually repaid the money over the course of two years.

Due to her involvement in his prosecution for the current exploitation charge, Roberts said she has concerns regarding possible retribution if he is released on bond.

"I'm not sure what he's capable of doing," she said, acknowledging that she sees him as a substantial physical threat.

On cross-examination by Lafferty's attorney, Roberts testified that he had broken into her home 20 years earlier with one of his brothers to borrow a guitar from her husband.

His mother also took the stand Wednesday afternoon, testifying in regard to the money that she alleged has been taken from her twice by Lafferty.

"It was my money--I worked for it," she said. "I didn't need it all, so I just kept it."

She stopped short of saying she was afriad of Lafferty, but did acknowledge she has concerns about what could happen if he were released.

"As long as he's locked up, I don't have to worry about him," his mother said.

She said if he was released, she would have to keep her house locked, out of concern he would come to visit her unannounced. She did state upon cross-examination that she would see him if she knew he was coming.

The two never made eye contact during the hearing.

At the hearing's conclusion, Satterfield took the issue under advisement. He gave no timetable as to when a ruling should be expected.

The case is set for a preliminary hearing on Thursday, June 19.

The two co-defendants in the case, Christopher and Brandy Hicks, are scheduled to appear before Satterfield on Thursday, June 5.