Judge finds evidence to move ahead with case against one of two women charged in connection with officer-involved shooting
PARIS, Mo. (KMIZ)
One of two women accused of harboring a man who got into a deadly shootout with law enforcement has been ordered held for trial.
The state is presenting its case against Patty and Lois Armour on Friday in a preliminary hearing in front of a Monroe County judge. Judge Talley Smith found probable cause to hold Lois Armour for trial.
Patty Armour's hearing was yet to begin at 2:15 p.m.
Both women have been held in the Randolph County Jail without bond since their arrests. Monroe County does not have a grand jury, so the preliminary hearing is a way to establish probable cause to move to a jury trial. The state will present evidence, and witnesses are expected to testify.
The defense can also cross-examine witnesses during the hearing.
Lois and Patty Armour are accused of hiding Charles Armour before he got into a shootout with law enforcement. The probable cause statements say that law enforcement went to the Armour residence in search of Charles and spoke with both women. The women allegedly claimed Charles Armour was not at the residence.
Lois Armous is Charles' mother, and Patty is his wife.
Officers were given permission to search the home and found Charles Armour in a bathroom with a handgun, the statement says. He then allegedly fired at the responding officers and hit a Randolph County deputy. Charles Armour, 57, was killed by returned fire and identified by law enforcement as a person of interest in a Ralls County homicide investigation.
Charles Armour is accused of killing Jonathan Floyd, 55, of Perry, Missouri.
Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Derek Powell testified during Lois Armour's hearing and the prosecution showed body camera video of officers searching for Charles Armour and encountering him.
The defense argued that the state has not shown that Lois Armour knew that Charles Armour was at the house.
A Randolph County deputy hit by gunfire was flown to a hospital. The deputy -- who has not been named -- was welcomed home to Moberly after his hospital stay.
Lois Armour's next hearing is set for 10 a.m. Jan. 8.
