Woman charged in Moniteau County murder case pleads guilty to lesser charge

CALIFORNIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A woman pleaded guilty to a felony charge of abandonment of a corpse linked to a Moniteau County murder that happened in 2015.

Suzanne Ponder was sentenced to five years of supervised probation in connection with the death of Jon Williams.

She was previously charged with first-degree murder in the case but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge on Friday.

Ponder could face up to four years in state prison if she violates the conditions of her parole, court documents said. She was also given credit for time served.

Court documents say Ponder and 58-year-old Sandy Gallaspie lured Williams to a low-water crossing on Mount Hope Road for an apparent drug deal.

Gallaspie allegedly shot Williams in the chest, documents said. His probable cause statement said Gallaspie and Ponder moved the remains to another location.

Detectives said skeletal remains were found at a residence in the 2700 block of Bess Hill Road in Jefferson City.

Documents say Ponder initially denied having any involvement in the killing.

Online court records say Gallaspie faces a charge of first-degree murder in the case.

The same records say his next court hearing is scheduled for Feb. 11, 2021.