Hearings set for murder suspects

CHARLESTON -- Preliminary hearings were set Wednesday for two Mississippi County residents accused of being involved in the death of a Charleston man.

Peggy Ann Austin, 40, of East Prairie and Jermaine Paige McGee, 35, of Charleston are scheduled to appear before Associate Circuit 33 Judge T. Lynn Brown at 10 a.m. Dec. 21.

Austin is charged with first degree robbery, and McGee is charged with second degree elder abuse, according to Mississippi County Prosecuting Attorney Darren Cann. The charges are subject to change, the prosecutor said.

McGee and Austin were arrested Monday by the Charleston Department of Public Safety for their involvement in the death of James Henderson, 67, of Charleston. Henderson was beaten the night of Nov. 14 at his apartment south of Green Street in Charleston, according to Johnson.

A woman who was checking on Henderson, found him Nov. 15 in his home. The worker then called emergency personnel for assistance. Henderson was transported to Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, where he underwent treatment for a period of time before dying Saturday.

Bond for McGee is set at $250,000. Information about Austin's bond was unavailable at press time. They remain in the Mississippi County Jail.