The suspect in the shooting death of a woman in Versailles on Monday morning has pleaded not guilty to charges including murder.
Robert Anselmo, 56 of Eldon, was arrested the evening of the incident, according to a news release from the Versailles Police Department. He was charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in Morgan County on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty at an arraignment hearing Wednesday, according to online court records.
A judge denied bond for Anselmo at the hearing, and a bond hearing is set for Sept. 30 at the Morgan County Courthouse. Anselmo is being held at the Morgan County Jail.
The victim of the shooting was identified as Johnetta Yeager, 51 of Versailles.
"Johnetta was an upstanding citizen of our community — respected, valued and deeply loved," the Versailles Police Department wrote in a news release posted to its Facebook page. "Her sudden and senseless death has shaken us all. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and all who are mourning this overwhelming loss."
Johnetta Yeager
A GoFundMe has been set up to support Yeager's family.
Police investigation
The Versailles Police Department also released new details Wednesday about its investigation into the shooting.
Murder charge filed in connection to Versailles shooting after victim dies
The Police Department said it made the decision not to issue a public safety alert immediately after the shooting.
The department said the shooting happened around 7:30 a.m. Monday, and it issued the first news release about the incident at 10:49 a.m. on Facebook.
"This was not a decision made lightly," the Police Department wrote in the news release. "Based on the early evidence and investigative leads, we believed this to be a targeted event, and we did not believe the public was in imminent danger."
A probable cause statement indicated that Anselmo was a former domestic partner of Yeager.
The Police Department said in the news release that it is sometimes necessary to withhold certain information to protect the integrity of the case. The department said premature disclosure can endanger due process, influence potential witnesses, alert suspects or result in the destruction of evidence.
Multiple surrounding counties and agencies assisted in the investigation, including Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Mid-Mo Drug Task Force, and Lake of the Ozarks Major Case Squad, according to the Wednesday news release.