Court hearing reset for Holts Summit man

A first-degree murder hearing scheduled in Callaway County Associate Court for Ryan Wayne Koebel Friday morning was continued until April 27.

Koebel, 17, is accused of murdering his grandmother, Karen Kaye Cates, 60, in her home in Holts Summit on Jan. 20.

Koebel did not appear in court and was represented by his court-appointed public defender.

In addition to the first-degree murder charge, Koebel is charged with three felony counts of first-degree assault against law enforcement officers, and four counts of felony armed criminal action in connection with the murder of his grandmother and firing a weapon at three law enforcement officers.

In a probable cause for arrest statement filed with Callaway County Circuit Court, Lt. Bryan Reid of the Holts Summit Police Department stated he was called to the scene of the murder by the victim's son, who reported he found his mother slain at her home.

While he was at the residence, Reid reported he received a call about a man brandishing a weapon while walking along U.S. 54 in Holts Summit.

Reid reported he met with Holts Summit Police Chief Kyle McIntyre and Corporal Mike Halford of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Halford had spotted the man walking along U.S. 54 with a gun. When the officers approached the man he began firing at them.

Halford then struck the man with his patrol vehicle and took him into custody. The man they arrested was Koebel.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.