Jefferson City man set to be sentenced for 2019 double murder
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Torry Upchurch, a man who pleaded guilty to killing two people on Thanksgiving in 2019 is scheduled to appear in Cole County court on Monday to learn how much time he will face for the crimes.
According to online court records, Upchurch will be sentenced Monday at 3:30 p.m. at the Cole County Courthouse.
In January Cole County prosecutor Locke Thompson said he plans to recommend two consecutive life sentences for Upchurch. Thompson also told ABC 17 News to do anything less than sentencing someone to life for taking a life, he feel wouldn't be justice.
Upchurch pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder back in January.
He was initially charged with two counts of first-degree murder and six other felonies, however Thompson said prosecutors dropped the other felonies as part of the plea agreement.
According to a probable cause statement, Upchurch first knocked on the door to an apartment in the 1300 Block of West McCarty Street and shot 17-year-old Earle Key in the face with a 9 mm handgun as he opened the door. Police say the two knew each other.
Upchurch then allegedly shot 33-year-old Shantae Hill-Cook multiple times in a vehicle at 2300 block of Southridge Drive. Police say, Upchurch told her to stay in the car before firing.
A witness told police Upchurch drove the woman's car from the scene.
Court documents say, he later showed up at the police station wearing bloody clothes and told people in the lobby details of the killings.
