Monday, September 17, 2012

Versailles, MO: Jury Selection Begins in Trial for Triple Murder

VERSAILLES, Mo. -- Jury selection is going on today in the trial of one of four men charged with the murders of three people in Laclede County three years ago.

Steven Pyykola is accused in the shooting deaths of Jeffrey Smith, 51, and his wife, Glenda Smith, 48. Both were found dead in their living room in Phillipsburg, Missouri in October 2009. The Smiths' daughter Miranda also lost her boyfriend, Zachary Porter, that same day. He was shot and killed in front of her in Lebanon.

Miranda Smith's former boyfriend, Josh Reyes, along with Pyykola, Jacky Wong, and Benjamin Stidham are all accused of carrying out the murders.

Court documents allege the men planned the killings for a week before shooting the Smiths in their home, and then Porter at Miranda Smith's apartment.

The trial was moved from Laclede County to Morgan County on a change of venue.

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