Change of venue granted in Jefferson City murder case

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Jefferson City man who was accused of stabbing the mother of his child to death has been granted a change of venue.

Sergio Sayles, 36, of Jefferson City, was charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, evidence tampering, second-degree stalking and second-degree harassment in the death of Jasmine King. Cole County’s top prosecutor in April filed an intent to seek the death penalty.

The county where the case will be moved to has not been announced, according to Cole County Prosecutor Locke Thompson. The move will be only for the trial, Thompson said.

Sayles is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond and has a hearing set for 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4 at the Cole County Circuit Court.

Judge Brouck Jacobs was assigned to the case in December after Jon Bettem recused himself. 

Police found King dead from stab wounds to her head, face, neck, torso and back in her home in the 300 block of West Ashley Street in April, according to a probable cause statement. Sayles gave inconsistent stories about where he was and he denied killing King, according to the statement.