MARSHFIELD, Mo. -- A 32-year-old woman is charged with killing a man from Rogersville last weekend. Detectives say April Guy, also known as April McCafferty, had "an on and off relationship" with Russell Lawson, who was shot in the head and chest at his home.
Guy was charged with second-degree murder late Wednesday afternoon. A probable cause statement used as the basis of the charge says detectives learned Guy told some other people early Sunday that she and Lawson argued on Saturday night and she shot him twice with a .22-caliber weapon. That fits with investigators' assessment that Lawson was killed 24 to 48 hours before his body was found about 8:30 a.m. Monday.
The probable cause statement also says Guy used Lawson's cellular telephone on Saturday night and Sunday. Missouri State Trooper Daniel Nash also wrote that witnesses told detectives that Lawson and Guy had been together on Friday and Saturday. One witness told detectives that Lawson said, "If I show up dead, make sure you have the police talk to April."
After Lawson's body was found by his mother, law enforcement officers started looking for his missing pickup. They found out where Guy might be staying in Springfield, went to that location, and found Lawson't pickup, although Guy wasn't there.
Guy was not in custody on Wednesday afternoon. Anyone with information about her whereabouts can call the Missouri State Highway Patrol at (417) 895-6868. Callers can remain anonymous. Guy is white, about 5-foot-3 and about 130 pounds.
The Rogersville police chief was still involved in the investigation and couldn't talk about the charge. The Highway Patrol took the lead in the investigation because the Rogersville Police Department only has a few officers.
A judge set Guy's bond at $500,000. The photo above is from a previous booking in the Greene County jail in Springfield.
Guy pleaded guilty in Greene County to several crimes over the past few years, including two cases of domestic assault, two cases of leaving the scene of an accident, and driving while intoxicated. She was sentenced to time in the county jail or probation on each of them.
Last June, Guy was charged with unlawful use of a weapon for an incident that happened around Aug. 12, 2011, in Springfield. Last month, Guy failed to show up for a court hearing on that case, and a judge issued a warrant for her arrest. The probable cause statement for the murder case indicates Guy had left Springfield, but called people last weekend to tell them she was back.
If Guy is convicted of second-degree murder, she could face a prison sentence between 10 and 30 years (life).
