Fatal stabbings among grand jury indictments

The Cole County Grand Jury handed down several indictments this week, finding there was enough evidence to send the cases onto the circuit courts for possible charges.

Among those indicted was a man charged in a double fatal stabbing in November.

Brandon Rapier, 27, fatally stabbed Micah Hall and Ciera Kolb, both 27, after posting a comment on his Facebook page complaining about a "betrayal" involving his ex and a friend of his, according to allegations in a probable cause statement filed in Cole County Circuit Court.

Two counts of first-degree murder were filed against Rapier just before he was captured at Ellis-Porter Riverside Park. Police said he had previously been involved in a romantic relationship with Kolb.

Detectives located Rapier coming out of the woods in the lower parking lot of Riverside Park. He appeared to be suffering from previously inflicted wounds that required medical attention.

An active ex-parte order was in effect listing Kolb as the petitioner and Rapier as the respondent, according to a Jefferson City Police Department probable cause statement. Rapier had posted on his Facebook account: "If you caught your friend that you would never betray in bed with your x that you loved to absolute death (after a month's time). How would you react? What would you do?"

Rapier also posted to Facebook: "A god among men, of either light or dark, whichever makes no difference to me. I will have it no other way. I am judge, jury, and my favorite, executioner."

Kolb reported to police she had received a "suspicious and threatening email" and numerous harassing telephone calls.

Police put the residence at 104 Grant St. under video surveillance. The probable cause statement reports: "Kolb and Hall were observed on surveillance in the front yard of 104 Grant St. An individual with similar characteristics as Rapier parked in front of the residence and ran towards Hall. The location of the attack is not in view of the cameras. The same individual ran back to the vehicle and drove northbound on Grant Street."

A Ford pickup truck with Rapier's phone in it was later found abandoned at Riverside Park, which is a short distance from the crime scene and where he was arrested.

Rapier had been on parole on a second-degree assault conviction in connection with a 2014 knife attack.

Also indicted was a Jefferson City man charged after burglarizing an office building in September.

Alex Stieffermann, 26, is charged with five counts of receiving stolen property and one count of tampering with a motor vehicle.

Jefferson City Police Department reports show the owner of the building in the 2000 block of Midland Court arrived after hunting to find Stieffermann inside. He had damaged a wall, removed items from several lockers and disorganized the victim's office and other areas.

Stieffermann's vehicle was later stopped and he admitted to entering the building and causing the damage.

Authorities were also able to obtain video footage of Stieffermann going into and out of the building.

Authorities added they found property from other active cases inside Stieffermanm's vehicle along with many other items that were stolen.

Also indicted was a Jefferson City woman charged after she was caught selling methamphetamine to a Mustang Drug Task Force confidential informant in July 2016.

Regina Puckett, 35, of 1717 Southwest Blvd., is charged with possession of a controlled substance and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia.

According to Jefferson City Police reports, Puckett sold 1 gram to the informant in the 700 block of Mulberry Street.

The transaction was witnessed by Mustang officers and a DEA task force officer.

Also indicted was a Jefferson City man facing multiple drug-related charges from September.

Brandon Weirich, 21, of 2125 Louis Circle, is charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a controlled substance.

Weirich let authorities search his residence, where they seized bags containing marijuana and other narcotics, according to a Jefferson City Police Department probable cause statement. Two rifles and three handguns were found in a safe. Authorities also found numerous zip-close bags, a digital scale and pipes.

Items associated with the cultivation and manufacturing of marijuana were found including ventilation filters, a grow tent, insulation, and buckets containing potting soil and remnants of marijuana plants that were previously harvested.

When questioned, Weirich said he and his girlfriend grew marijuana for their personal use, and he planned to give some of the pills that were found to a methamphetamine dealer he owed money to.

Authorities said Weirich was charged with unlawful use of a weapon because he had exhibited a fully loaded 9mm Smith and Wesson handgun in a threatening manner when they made contact with him.

Also indicted was a Jefferson City woman facing numerous charges after the Mustang Drug Task Force served a narcotics warrant at her home in August 2016.

Tiffany Carter, 41, is charged with felony possession of a controlled substance, felony unlawful possession of a firearm and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance.

The bust occurred in the 800 block of Clark Avenue.

According to the Cole County Sheriff's Department, authorities found 2-3 grams of crack cocaine, 1.6 grams of powder cocaine, 35 alprazolam pills, 13 hydrocodone pills, two digital scales and two .22 revolvers.

Authorities interviewed Carter, who admitted being a crack user, and marijuana authorities found under her bed belonged to her.

She also admitted her fingerprints would be found on one of the revolvers.

Carter was convicted in August 2001 for distribution of a controlled substance.