Showing posts with label miranda smith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label miranda smith. Show all posts

Monday, September 26, 2011

BREAKING NEWS: Jacky Wong Pleads Guilty To 2009 Laclede County Triple Murder:

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Jacky Wong (mug shot LCSO)



A young man from Springfield pleaded guilty to amended charges of second-degree murder for a heinous triple murder in the fall 2009 that stunned southwest Missouri.

Jacky Wong, 23, of Springfield, was originally charged with first-degree murder for the October 2009 deaths of Jeff and Glenda Smith and Zack Porter in Laclede County.

Jeffry and Glenda Smith (facebook)

Joshua Antonio Reyes, 25, was the ringleader in the triple murders of his former girlfriend Miranda Smith's 51 year-old father and 48 year-old stepmother and her boyfriend at the time, 25 year-old Porter.  According to court records, there were supposed to be additional victims but the perps got lost trying to find their houses.

Zack Porter (family photo)

Reyes pleaded guilty to three counts of murder in May of 2010 and was sentenced to life without the possibility parole. 

Josh Reyes (l); Steven Pyykola (m) and Jacky Wong
At the time of the murders, Laclede County Sheriff Richard Wrinkle said the motive was robbery and, "Jealousy......she took everything he loved away from him (Reyes), so he was going to take everything she loved away from her."

Benjamin Stidham (mug shot LCSO)

Two other young men still face charges connected to the Smith - Porter murders.  Benjamin Stidham, 19, of Springfield, is scheduled to stand trial in Camden County in December and Steven Pyykola', 20, also of Springfield, case is set for trial in September of 2012 in Morgan County where the case was moved on a change of venue.

Wong faces from 10 years to life in prison (which is 30 years in Missouri) when he is sentenced on December 5th.  The only sentence for a first-degree murder conviction in Missouri is life without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. is scheduled to be sentenced December 5th in Laclede County.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Change Of Venue Granted For Accused Laclede County Killer; Stidham Formally Arraigned:


Steven Pyykola

Two Springfield teenagers charged in the October murders of three people in Laclede County made appearances in court today (03-01-10.)

Steven Pyykola, 18, was granted a change of venue for his first degree murder trial to Morgan County. Benjamin Stidham, 16, waived formal arraignment in Circuit Court. Stidham was certified as an adult to stand trial last December.

Benjamin Stidham

The two teens are alleged to have taken part in the shooting deaths of Jeff and Glenda Smith in Phillipsburg, and Zack Porter in Lebanon on October 11, 2009, with Joshua A. Reyes and Jacky Wong.




Jeff and Glenda Smith

The Smith's were the parents of Miranda Smith, who is the mother of Reyes' two children.

Prosecutors allege that Reyes was upset because Miranda Smith had recently started dating Porter.





Zack Porter

At the time of the murders, Laclede County Sheriff Richard Wrinkle said the motive was robbery and, "Jealousy......she took everything he loved away from him (Reyes), so he was going to take everything she loved away from her."

Josh Reyes is scheduled to appear in court on March 8th on a change of venue motion.

Jacky Wong's trial is tentatively scheduled to begin on July 12th in Laclede County.