For Immediate Release
Aug. 3, 2017
A Jackson County judge on Thursday sentenced Dewayne Cornelius to 27 years in prison for the May 2016 fatal shooting of Nicole Appleberry, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.
A Jackson County jury convicted Cornelius in June 2017 of Murder 2nd Degree and Armed Criminal Action. A judge on Thursday sentenced Cornelius to 27 years on his Murder 2nd Degree conviction and 27 years on the Armed Criminal Action conviction. He set the sentences to run concurrently.
According to court records, Cornelius and victim resided together. On May 25, 2015, police found Nicole Appleberry, dob: 9/27/1987, in a residence in the 3200 block of e. 28th Street. She had suffered fatal gunshot wounds. Witnesses told police that Cornelius told them he shot the woman "Nikki." Police recovered a woeapon that fired spent shell casings found at the scene.
Prosecutors Jeremy Baldwin and Kristiane Bryant prosecuted the case on behalf of the state of Missouri.
For more information, contact:
Michael Mansur
Director of Communication
Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office
Jean Peters Baker, Prosecutor
Work : (816) 881-3812
Mobile: (816) 674-3954
mmansur@jacksongov.org
http://jacksoncountyprosecutor.com
*Charges are only accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or has pleaded.