The state plans to call its last witness today in the murder trial against Sandra Plunkett, a Holts Summit woman accused of murdering her husband in 2011.
Presiding Judge Gary Oxenhandler told jurors late Wednesday evening that he was OK with the trial's progress because Randy Deppe, the state's next-to-last witness, was important.
Deppe, currently in prison, said he was connected to Plunkett through drug use and "acquaintances in the same drug addiction." He testified that in late 2010, Plunkett asked him if he knew someone who would consider or if he would consider killing her "old man." At the time, he thought she was trying to earn "street cred."
Justin Carver, Plunkett's public defender, questioned Deppe on his conflicting statements he made to Jefferson City Detective Mark Edwards, while a suspect in the case and in a November 2012 deposition.
Plunkett told investigators in early January 2011 that Deppe wanted them to be a couple and that could have been motivation for him to commit the murder. She also told investigators at the time that Paul Plunkett, who was nearly bedridden due to surgeries to help an inflammatory colon disease, wanted to die and wished to be free of pain and suffering. Deppe, she continued, was the one who was going to carry out Paul Plunkett's wishes because both she and Paul Plunkett could not bring themselves to do it.
Investigators say they later discovered Plunkett fabricated this story.
Carver said Deppe told police Plunkett discussed the murder once while at a friend's house. The deposition states Deppe said Plunkett talked with him about her husband's murder twice - once at a friend's house and the other time in a truck after they "shot up," Carver pointed out in court Wednesday.
Deppe answered that he is a human and his memory grew better over time.
Carver also referenced the deposition in which Deppe stated he regularly used drugs and would "hook up" Plunkett with drugs, taking a portion of hers as his payment for supplying her.
The reward for Paul Plunkett's death was a split of a $100,000 life insurance policy.
Throughout Plunkett's questioning in early January 2011, she repeatedly told investigators - as revealed in interview tapes - she had "nothing to gain" from Paul Plunkett's death and they didn't have life insurance. United Healthcare official Colene Legere testified Paul Plunkett's policy was reported in 2008 and Sandra Plunkett was the beneficiary.
After learning of his father's death, Josh Plunkett testified he searched the Plunkett's Holts Summit residence for important documents and discovered a life insurance policy document along with romance novels inside a pink shopping bag.
In addition, Josh Plunkett said he was the personal representative for Paul Plunkett's estate, which included a $260,000 settlement from a malpractice lawsuit filed before his death and settled after his death.
Mark Stoner, Paul Plunkett's former partner with the Jefferson City Police Department and friend of the couple, said Sandra Plunkett asked to borrow money from him "several times," each time for between $80 to $100. Stoner testified that Sandra Plunkett told him she needed the money for Paul Plunkett's medical supplies.
Sandra Plunkett's transactions at Family Pawn in Jefferson City also indicated her attempts to obtain cash. Jason Travis, the manager at Family Pawn, testified that Sandra Plunkett had 11 transactions with the store between Nov. 24 and Dec. 23, 2010, selling silver coins and scrap silver that totaled to $1,981.
Her last attempt to sell at the pawn shop was the week before Paul Plunkett's death when she brought in a .22 caliber rifle - the murder weapon. John Thompson, a pawn shop employee, said Sandra Plunkett rejected his offer for the rifle on Dec. 30, 2010, and left the shop.
Sgt. David Rice with the Missouri Highway Patrol testified Sandra Plunkett led investigators to the rifle down a gravel road off of Halifax Road in Holts Summit on Jan. 4, 2011. This was after she confessed to investigators, stating she was about two-feet away from Paul Plunkett when she pulled the trigger around 9:30 a.m. on New Year's Day 2011.
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