A Jefferson City man has pleaded not guilty to charges in relation to a February murder case.
Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem accepted the plea made on behalf of Austin Corrigan, 21, by his lawyer, Shane Farrow, during a hearing Tuesday afternoon.
Corrigan is charged with second-degree murder, first-degree assault and armed criminal action for the February killing of Clifton Withers, 63, and wounding of Carol Wilson, Withers' girlfriend, in the 4500 block of Route E.
Wilson called 911 on Feb. 8 and stated she and Withers had been shot by a man named Austin, who had left the scene.
Cole County Sheriff's Department deputies arrived to find Withers dead on the floor from an apparent gunshot wound. They also found Wilson had been shot. She was taken to University Hospital in Columbia for treatment and was later released.
A short time after deputies arrived, 911 operators received a call from a person identifying himself as Austin Corrigan, who said he had heard that "Cliff Withers and Carol Wilson had been killed at their home on Route E."
When asked why he thought they had been killed, Corrigan said that was "just what he heard, and he went to that location to check on them." Corrigan also told dispatchers he believed "Withers and Carol were meth dealers."
Dispatchers asked Corrigan where he was, and he told them he was driving a blue Jeep.
A Jefferson City police officer located Corrigan's vehicle and tried to stop it on U.S. 50. He refused to stop, and a pursuit ensued, going from Jefferson City into Holts Summit. Corrigan wrecked the vehicle by hitting an outbuilding on the parking lot of America's Best Value Inn. He fled on foot but was caught after a short pursuit.
Wilson had been able to give a description of Corrigan and what he was wearing to investigators, according to the probable cause statement.
Attorney Farrow argued Tuesday that Corrigan should be given a bond, as much of the evidence in the case - which includes weapons and blood analysis - is still being conducted at the Missouri Highway Patrol crime lab and probably won't be done for a long time. Cole County Assistant Prosecutor Scott Fox argued Corrigan should continue to be held without bond and that the surviving witness, Wilson, feared for her life if Corrigan were to be released.
Beetem set a bond for Corrigan at $50,000, cash only.