Jessica J. Epting, one of five defendants accused of killing Iolan Shawn Cook last March, has reached a plea deal.
Epting, 33, was found guilty last week of a pair of misdemeanor charges, interfering with law enforcement and obstruction of justice, in Allen County Magistrate Court.
Judge Tod Davis sentenced Epting to a combined 13 months in jail for the interference and obstruction charges. The jail sentence was suspended for 12 months probation.
The plea deal was the first resolution among the five defendants.
Others still charged with first-degree murder — Epting’s original charge — are Joshua L. Knapp, 35, Fort Scott, Amber Boeken, 25, Iola, Rhonda Jackson, 50, Iola, and James Myers, 60, Iola.
Knapp is scheduled to appear in court again Feb. 22, Boeken on Feb. 27, Myers of March 10 and Jackson on March 21.
Allen County Attorney Jerry Hathaway said Epting has agreed to cooperate with law enforcement and the county attorney’s office in the prosecution of the other defendants.
Hathaway said the murder charge was dismissed against Epting after additional investigation by law enforcement.
COOK, 33, was last seen by relatives last March 13; they reported him missing four days later.
His disappearance sparked a 16-day, countywide manhunt before his body was discovered northwest of Iola along the Neosho River.
Boeken was arrested March 21, and Knapp on March 24 on unrelated charges, before Hathaway announced they would be charged with first-degree murder April 28.
Murder charges then were filed against Jackson, Myers and Epting in late July. Jackson and Myers were taken into custody that day; Epting remained at large until she was arrested Sept. 9 in Topeka.
