Suspect in West Frankfort double murder pleads not guilty
BENTON, IL (KFVS) - One of the suspects in the West Frankfort double homicide pleaded not guilty to murder on Monday.
Michael Schallert walked into the Franklin County Court House in Benton showing no emotion. Once inside Schallert sat quietly as a West Frankfort Police officer testified.
Detective John Prudent detailed the events that lead up to the shooting deaths of 28-year Kandis Majors and 32-year-old Terri Seibeck. Prudent recalled a taped interview with Schallert while behind bars in Colorado. He told the court the 29 year old confessed to stealing a semi-automatic handgun with the intent to rob and kill Majors and Seibeck.
West Frankfort Police discovered the women's bodies at a home on North Douglas Street back in October. Prudent says a family member called police after she noticed blood on the front door. The detective testified Schallert and 19-year-old Afton Ferris also lived at that home for about a month. Prudent states Schallert told investigators Majors told him and Ferris they were being kicked out.
The officer also told the court Schallert said later they went back to the house and knocked on the door with the pretense they were trying to make things right. However, Prudent says Schallert confessed he went to a bedroom, gathered himself, then first shot Majors and then turned the gun on Seibeck. But according to his confession, the gun jammed and once reloaded Ferris took the gun and continued to shoot Seibeck.
Prudent says surveillance tape from CC Mart in West Frankfort caught Schallert and Ferris filling up one of the victim's car with gas and paid for it with their stolen credit card. He says that was the same day of the shootings.
Court testimony revealed US Marshals tracked the couple's stolen credit card use through Kansas. Marshals eventually located Schallert and Ferris outside Ft. Collins Colorado just days after the women were murdered.
Schallert pleaded not guilty which in turn waived a formal arraignment. The state is considering the death penalty in this case.
A pre-trial date is set for the beginning of January.
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