Roberts’ Arraignment Scheduled for Feb. 8; Charged With 2006 Murder In Knox City

By Crystal Howerton
 
The preliminary hearing for Shane Colby Roberts, 28, of Kirksville, MO, was held on Friday, January 11, 2007 at 1:30 p.m., having been continued from Friday, December 28. Roberts was charged with First Degree Murder and Armed Criminal Action on October 30, 2007 in connection with the murder of Larry G. Callahan, 57, of Knox City, MO on October 5 or 6, 2006.
First on the stand was Corporal David Johnson who is employed with the North Missouri Drug Task Force out of Kirksville, MO. Corp. Johnson testified that his contact with Roberts began as undercover investigation with the purchase of stolen aluminum wire and copper piping from Roberts.  The meetings were arranged by David Owenby, 32 of Kirksville, MO who was arrested with Roberts and Roberts’ sister, Angela D. Knowles, 27, of Greentop, MO on multiple charges in Knox and Adair Counties on October 22, 2007. 
During the course of his investigation, Corp. Johnson learned that Roberts was a suspect in the murder of a Knox City man and over several meetings probed Roberts for information about the murder, which was recorded.  During the last meeting, Corp. Johnson reported that he, Owenby and Roberts drove to Lake Lujuan in Milan, MO where Roberts pointed out the general direction in which the Mossberg 500A that was allegedly used by Roberts to murder Callahan, had been disposed of. The three men were arrested as they re-entered Adair County in a pre-arranged traffic stop conducted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol on October 22, 2007.
Corporal Steven Wilhoit with the MSHP Drug and Crime Control was also on the stand.  Corp. Wilhoit was questioned with regards to the crime scene in Knox City on October 6, 2007, as well as Knox County Sheriff Mike Kite who identified Callahan at the scene.
In spite of attempts made by Roberts’ lawyer, Judge William Alberty ruled that probable cause was established in both instances and requests for an Own Recognizance (OR) Bond were denied.
Roberts’ is scheduled for arraignment on February 8, 2008 with Circuit Judge Russell E. Steele. 
Roberts’ sister, Angela D. Knowles was not present at the hearing, however she is scheduled to appear on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. on charges of Murder in the Second Degree, also in connection with Callahan’s death.