Malissa AnconaAP
LEADWOOD, Missouri — The wife and stepson of a self-proclaimed Ku Klux Klan leader have been charged with his murder, although a lawyer says the stepson was not involved, reports say.
Malissa Ancona, 44, of Leadwood, and her son, Paul Jinkerson Jr., 24, of Belgrade, Mo., both have been charged with first-degree murder, the Daily Journal reports. Both are being held in the St. Francois County Jail without bond.
Paul E. Jinkerson Jr.AP
They are accused of killing Frank Ancona, 51, who said he was the imperial wizard of a KKK chapter near St. Louis, ABC News reports.
A probable cause statement says Jinkerson shot and killed Ancona on Thursday as Ancona slept in a bedroom, according to the Associated Press. Ancona’s body was put in Jinkerson’s body and driven about 20 miles, where it was left on the bank of the Big River.
The body was found Saturday by a family fishing along the river.
St. Francois County Prosecutor Jerrod Mahurin tells kmov.com that evidence indicates that Malissa Ancona “was an active participant” in the crime. Malissa Ancona had told investigators she was at a convenience store at the time of the shooting, a story that was “easily” proven untrue, kmov.com reports.
Malissa Ancona reportedly told investigators that Jinkerson shot her husband, and she tried to destroy evidence and alter the crime scene.
A lawyer for Jinkerson tells the AP he doesn’t believe Jinkerson is involved, but he declined to elaborate.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
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