The man charged for the 1981 murder of Ricky Ridings took part in a brief video court hearing Friday.
Conrad Schmitt III, 64, was formally informed of his capital murder charge. He appeared without counsel and asked for a lawyer. Schmitt will be provided with a form to apply for a public defender, according to Callaway County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Wilson.
An arraignment is scheduled for 3 p.m May 30. Schmitt is currently serving a life sentence for a 1995 first-degree murder case in St. Charles County.
On July 8, 1981, deputies investigated a report of human remains found in a vehicle parked alongside Little Tavern Creek in the southeast part of the county outside of Portland, according to information from the Callaway County Sheriff's Department.
The body eventually was identified as Ridings, who had been reported missing by his family June 30, 1981. It was determined he died from a shotgun wound to the head.
The Ridings' case remained cold for more than 30 years until Callaway County Sheriff's Office officials received new information in June 2017. Investigators from the Department of Corrections and detectives from the O'Fallon Police Department assisted in the investigation.