A potential murder trial, moved to Cole County on a change of venue, could cost up to $100,000 - and the Cole County Commission wants to make sure the county gets the money it would be owed.
The commission on Tuesday approved sending a letter to commissioners in Wayne County regarding the cost of the trial.
Wayne County is approximately 140 miles southwest of St. Louis.
The case - State of Missouri v. Drew Atchison - was transferred in June. The Missouri Attorney General's Office is assisting the Wayne County prosecutor in this case, and they intend to seek the death penalty.
A trial date has not yet been set. Cole County Judge Jon Beetem has been assigned the case, and a status hearing is scheduled Oct. 31.
Atchison, 24, of Williamsville, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action, one count of felony child kidnapping and one count of felony tampering in the first degree.
Police said Atchison confessed to killing Samara Kitts, 23; her boyfriend, Harley Million, 24; and their 17-month-old daughter, Willa Million.
Butler County authorities found the bodies of the three victims the morning of Jan. 29. A probable cause statement filed with the court shows Million's and Kitts' throats had been slashed and the child had been shot in the head.
When detectives interviewed Atchison, he admitted to being at the family's home Jan. 25 and subsequently confessed to killing the three victims, according to court documents.
The probable cause statement filed in this case gives no indication for a motive.
The Cole County Commission sent the letter to the Wayne County Commission because under Missouri Statute 550.120, the costs and expenses of the criminal action incurred by the county where a case is moved to are to be reimbursed by the county where the case originally was charged.
"Death penalty cases are particularly more expensive to the county, as jury selection is more extensive and the jurors are sequestered throughout the trial," the letter reads. "The Cole County Circuit Court has at this time estimated the cost of the Atchison case to be around $100,000 if it goes to trial."
Commissioners said they sent the letter to Wayne County knowing the small county does not have a large operating budget.
"We are providing you this information so that Wayne County can take this potential expense into consideration when preparing your county's annual budgets," the letter continued. "At this time, it is thought that this case probably will not be tried until 2020. In that event, your county will have two budget cycles to prepare for the likely expenses."
The last murder trial handled in Cole County was the case of David Hosier. A St. Charles County jury in 2013 found Hosier guilty of the September 2009 death of Angela Gilpin as she was leaving her West High Street apartment for her job at a Wardsville convenience store. Court officials estimated that trial cost Cole County around $80,000, including housing jurors at a local hotel and sequestering them - meaning court bailiffs provided around-the-clock security.
Cole County Attorney Jill LaHue, who wrote the letter approved Tuesday, said Wayne County would not have to pay anything until the judge would sign the order at the end of the trial.