State of Missouri v. Cecil Russell McBenge

Cecil Russell McBenge (“Defendant”) appeals the judgment entered upon a jury verdict convicting him of first-degree murder for his alleged involvement in the 1984 killing of Eleonora Knoernschild (“Victim”). We reverse and remand for a new trial.

I. BACKGROUND

Over two decades after Victim’s murder, a DNA analysis linked Defendant and his brother Brian McBenge 1 to evidence found on or near Victim’s property shortly after she was killed. In separate underlying cases, Defendant and Brian were each charged with and found guilty by a jury of first-degree murder based on accomplice liability. 2 The…