Rhonda Jackson and James Myers, two of the five suspects accused of murdering Iolan Shawn Cook in March, had their first court appearances Friday in front of Allen County District Judge Daniel Creitz.
Creitz set bond for both at $1 million and scheduled their cases for a status hearing at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 17.
Allen County Attorney Jerry Hathaway filed the first-degree murder charges Wednesday against Jackson, Myers and Jessica Epting. Jackson and Myers were arrested without incident Wednesday. Epting remains at large.
Hathaway previously filed first-degree murder charges against Amber Boeken and Joshua Knapp, who also remain in custody on $1 million bond.
William Shane Adamson, an attorney in Parsons, was appointed to represent Jackson. Brian Duncan, an attorney in Yates Center, was appointed to represent Myers.
Cook’s disappearance March 13 sparked a 16-day manhunt before his body was found along the bank of the Neosho Rivers in southern Coffey County April 3. Preliminary autopsy reports indicated Cook had been stabbed.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Iola Police Department and Allen County Sheriff’s Department are continuing their joint investigation.
While Hathaway has declined to say whether others may be charged, he asked for anyone with information regarding the Cook death to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477), Iola Police Department at 1-620-365-4960 or the Allen County Sheriff’s Department at 1-620-365-1400.
As an aside, Myers also faces charges of forgery and theft in an unrelated case. Hathaway filed papers this week accusing Myers of using stolen checks at five different occasions in Allen County.
