Triple-murder suspect to be tried in October
Published 5:57 pm Wednesday, August 20, 2014
By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer
COLUMBIANA—The trial for a Pelham triple-murder suspect is scheduled to begin Oct. 6, according to court documents filed on Aug. 19.
Jon Ingram Staggs, 22, was arrested on Sept. 9 2012 and charged with the murders of 19-year-old Simeon Gilmore, 22-year-old Joshua Smith and 22-year-old Casey Cumberland.
Staggs was indicted on Sept. 14, 2012 on three counts of capital murder-robbery and one count of capital murder-burglary.
According to the indictment, Staggs allegedly “intentionally” shot and killed Gilmore, Smith and Cumberland on Sept. 9, 2012 while allegedly “unlawfully” entering and attempting to rob Smith’s residence, located in the 2400 block of Chandabrook Drive in Pelham’s Chandalar subdivision.
Attorneys for Staggs entered a plea of not guilty on all charges on May 6, 2013, and he was denied youthful offender status during a preliminary hearing on Oct. 30, 2013.
Staggs was scheduled for an Aug. 21 status hearing, but this has been continued according to court documents filed on Aug. 20.
According to a joint motion filed by the defense and prosecution on Aug. 20, “both parties have come to the conclusion that a short continuance would be justified and would, in fact, be helpful for the Defense in its preparation for trial.” However, the motion confirmed “both the State and Defense fully expect to be ready” for the Oct. 6 trial date.
Staggs is currently being held without bond in the Shelby County Jail.