Christopher Piersee is escorted by Lewis County Chief Deputy Robert Power, center, and Sheriff David Parrish from the Lewis County Jail into the Lewis County Courthouse Monday, March 2 in Monticello, Mo., for Piersee's first court appearance.
(H-W Photo/Michael Kipley)
MONTICELLO, Mo. -- The LaGrange man accused of murdering his wife and infant son will have a preliminary hearing April 21 in Lewis County.
Christopher Piersee, 24, made his first court appearance Monday afternoon for the Feb. 4 murders of his wife, Trish Yarbrough Piersee, 21, and 5-month-old son, Landon, in their LaGrange residence.
Christopher Piersee was taken after his arrest the day of the murders to an undisclosed state facility and returned last Friday.
Judge Fred Westhoff read the charges against Piersee, who sat at a table in the courtroom next to attorneys David Clayton and Todd Scholze of the state Public Defenders Office in Hannibal. Piersee said he understood the charges and his rights.
Westhoff ruled Piersee will be held without bond in the Lewis County Jail. No other hearings are scheduled.
Wearing a striped Lewis County Jail jumpsuit, Piersee was escorted the short distance from the jail to the courthouse by Lewis County Sheriff David Parrish and Chief Deputy Rob Power. He did not answer several questions issued by media as he walked from the jail to the courthouse.
Several members of Trish Yarbrough's family were in the courtroom for the hearing.
Piersee is accused of shooting his wife to death and beating his son to death with either his fists or an object. The Piersees lived at 409 North Main, the main road through LaGrange.
Parrish said the investigation into the murders continues. No motive has been given.
Christopher Piersee was born in Keokuk, Iowa, and married Patricia Yarbrough in 2007 in Burlington, Iowa, authorities said. They moved to LaGrange in the fall or early winter of 2008.
