Mexico woman pleads guilty to double murder

A 31-year-old Audrain County woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to being involved in the murders of an Auxvasse man and his daughter in September 2011.

Boone County Circuit Judge Kevin Crane sentenced Jacie Coari, of Mexico, Missouri, to 10 years for two counts of second-degree murder and one count first-degree attempted robbery in the deaths of Michael and Amanda Weiberg.

Jacie told police she gave her husband a ride to 56-year-old Michael Weiberg's residence. She said she returned to her mother-in-law's house where they had been staying. Jacie told officers Ryan Coari planned to rob Weiberg, but she didn't know her husband had a gun.

Jacie told police Ryan returned to his mother's house in Amanda's vehicle and told her he had shot the Weibergs and set their home on fire. She told police the couple disposed of two handguns - one belonging to Michael and the gun that authorities later identified as the murder weapon - in two Audrain County ponds.

Jacie also told police the couple unsuccessfully tried to set the interior of the vehicle on fire. Officers later recovered a duffel bag with camouflage clothing Ryan had worn at the crime scene.

Jacie and Ryan were arrested in Michigan on other charges when Ryan pleaded guilty to the double homicide and attempted robbery.

Ryan is serving two consecutive life sentences.

Callaway County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Wilson said he agreed to a plea deal with Jacie because of her small role in the crime and because she cooperated with authorities.

"Without her help, we would not have found the murder weapon," Wilson said. "The case against her husband would have been a lot harder to work with."