Callaway County man accused of killing wife 21 years ago pleads not guilty

FULTON, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Callaway County man who has been accused of killing his wife in 2002 pleaded not guilty in court on Monday morning.

Harold Dickens, 64, of Williamsburg, was charged with first-degree murder. He is being held at the Callaway County Jail without bond. Dickens appeared in court via video from the jail. A hearing was set for 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 13.

Dickens was indicted by a Callaway County grand jury on Wednesday, Nov. 1. The indictment alleges he killed Debra Dickens – who was described as Dickens’ wife by the Callaway County sheriff’s office – by stabbing her on or around April 28, 2002.

Court records indicate Debra Dickens had filed for divorce in March 2002. Debra Dickens' death date is listed as April 28, 2002, in those court entries. The divorce case was dismissed without prejudice on Sept. 16, 2002.