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Subscribe to RSSHundreds of friends and family remember a former college volleyball star killed during apparent robbery in St. Louis. WMAQ's Michelle Relerford reports.
Two 18-year-old St. Louis-area men were charged with murder Friday in the killing of Megan Boken, a 23-year-old Wheaton, Ill., woman who was in town last weekend for a job interview and college reunion volleyball game.
nbcchicago.com
Keith Esters and Johnathan Perkins
Keith Esters of Bel-Ridge was charged with first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and attempted first-degree robbery. Johnathon T. Perkins of St. Louis was charged with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, and attempted second-degree robbery.
St. Louis prosecutor Jennifer M. Joyce first announced the charges and identified the suspects on Twitter Friday, a day after police said they had two suspects in custody.
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Police in a probable cause statement said Boken, a former St. Louis University volleyball player who graduated in 2011, was sitting in her car when she was shot two times in the neck and chest by Esters, who they say admitted to them he planned to rob Boken after he saw her talking on a cellphone Saturday afternoon in the city’s Central West End. The reunion game was scheduled two hours later, area media outlets reported.
Perkins, police said, drove Esters to and from the crime scene.
See the story at NBCChicago.com
Saint Louis University volleyball player Megan Boken warms up before a match in 2010.
Perkins also told investigators that Esters had told him he shot Boken, police said.
A cellphone stolen in an armed robbery days before the Boken killing aided police in their investigation, they said. The cellphone theft investigation, police said, led to Esters’ girlfriend, who told officers that Esters admitted the killing to her.
She said Esters and Perkins are cousins, police said.
Police also said a witness identified Esters running from the scene.
A funeral for Boken was held Thursday in Wheaton.
"She was everything, she was one of my best friends, she was always happy, always in a great mood, always willing to help me out. She'll be missed dearly," David Bruckner, outside the funeral home, told NBCChicago.com.
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Megan's father, Paul Boken, released the following statement Thursday:
"I understand that the St Louis Police Department apprehended several suspects in this case. We are gratified with the progress in this case and with the efforts of the St Louis Police Department. We also are very appreciative of the efforts of several people in the Central West End who came to our daughter Megan's aid after the incident. I would like to thank the St Louis Police Department for their hard work and those individuals who have come forward to assist in this case.
"I would like to thank the communities of St Michael's Catholic Church, St Francis High School and Saint Louis University who have been so supportive of our family over the last several days. The services for our daughter took place simultaneously in Wheaton, Illinois at St Michael's and at Saint Louis University, and were of great comfort to our family."
This article includes reporting by NBC News' Jim Gold.
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Leave a Comment:
Two bullets should take care of these guys
No, stand one behind the other and use a sword.
Where oh where are Rev. Sharpton, Mr. Jesse Jackson, and the ACLU saying these two guys are the VICTIMS ?
Or Mr. Carnary at a special White House press briefing ?
Megan Boken rest in peace. Justice for your murder will prevail.
She is just as guilty as they are. She was using a dead women's phone and knew it!
Two clean, good looking, articulate individuals from the 'hood.
No surprise here folk.
So out of the thousands of young black women that own cell Phones in St. Louis, they just decide to kill and steal this one white girl's phone...randomly?..right...and i have a couple of Bridges in NY i'd like to sell ya.
Killed for a cell phone? I doubt it. This was a hate crime as they never killed the other person they stole a phone from. More then likely the New Black Panther Party inspired these two with their comments reguarding killing white wemon and babies ect... Just to even things up there should be two KKK members at every polling station in the USA this Nov. as holder wont be able to press charges being he refused to allow the two panther members to be charged. Also, the skin heads should march through every housing project in the USA so the blacks will riot and burn down their own communities. The time to march is Nov. 7th..
Another victim of your "right to bear arms" culture. You Americans don't need terrorists to kill your people. You are doing a good job yourselves. Glad I live in Australia. just saying
Thank you Claudio. We need to hear more from people that bow down to an old lady.
Yes, Claudio, we're also glad you live in Australia -- a British penal colony that reveres a monarchy that has never faced a fair election.
Criminals will find a way. In Britain they use knives and blunt objects instead of guns. If the person has no respect for human life, he'll do it any way he can. The problem isn't guns its the people this country is producing at an alarming rate who value crime and not life.
Claudio,
If it wasn't for the Americans Australia would be speaking Japanese. WOG
I don't know whats more annoying, someone trying to make Americans as a whole look like these two @!$%# bags, or that they use Just saying at the end of their sentence. One thing I do hate for sure though is everyone categorizing us or any other person in the world as a whole. Plenty of @!$%# goes down in Australia just the same as America, maybe not identical in nature to shootings but it's not perfect. I've said it ten million times, I hope to live in Australia someday... but damnt I guess Dumb asses are everywhere aren't they? Such a damn shame!.
Claudio my man, or can I just call you Clod for short. Good then, Clod it is. Well Clod, in 2010 of the 12,996 murders 8,775 were cause by firearms. If you are thinking that it is a tragedy and that nearly 9,000 people would still be alive if not for firearms I agree with you ( ). But you know something Clod? Diabetes kills more people than firearms each year ( ) and obesity is the leading preventable death out there (). Do you think that we should ban sugar and do away with forks and spoons? I mean we could eliminate three of the leading causes of preventable deaths in the world. I can tell that you are a passionate man that cares about the world. You should start a cause on Facebook or something. You know, put your name out there as the person who is trying to ban sugar and do away with silverware and firearms. You could go down in history as the person to cut preventable deaths in half. Perhaps you would win the Nobel prize.
Ok, enough with the sarcasm. Why don't you worry about your own country as we could all write some demeaning comments about Australia if we wanted to. I think that most of us on here realize that you are just a jacka** and that you do not represent your country as a whole. So why don't you just sit there and shut up, stop touching yourself also, and find something better to do than leave disrespectful comments on the internet. Just sayin...
clod,go blo a roo.
This is not a gun culture crime you Ozzie pud, rather it is a criminal act by to Black thugs with no respect for anything, much like the moral delinquents fore bearers of most of the population of OZ.
Its nothing to do with a gun culture and everything to do with people just not giving a damn about other people, The british learned that only after every country they took over by force for hundreds of years finally over threw and kicked then out. D'oh!
Indeed, Auzzie boy. Many here will agree with you that the problem is caused by inanimate objects, rather than by people who kill for profit and thrills and are not separated from peaceful society by a legal system burdened by an obsession for pot smokers and prostitutes.
I hope all the families involved find some peace from a terrible situation. We as a nation need to begin a campaign for human decency...terrible tradegy.
The only family that should be allowed to find peace is that of the deceased. The families of the perpetrators can cry, wail and wring their hands for the next 40-50 years. Their failures to instill values in these two losers deserve no mercy. Let the sins of the sons be borne by the fathers (or mothers).
They'll do well in prison. Bubba's already biding on them.
This would never have happened if these two men had work! The corrupt Republican corporate MONARCHY needs to SPREAD THEIR WEALTH among the 99% American People, the SAME PEOPLE that made them successful in the first place! To hell with their ONE-PERCENTERS & VACATIONING CEO'S! It's time for them to give back! They've been STEALING LONG ENOUGH!
They can start by going to a 3-day work week with the same 5-day pay for their employees and then hire the UNEMPLOYED to fill in the remaining time at an equal 5-day pay!
This is a DEMOCRATIC AMERICA, isn't it? Then, let's do something right for a change! You can't and are NOT taking the MONEY with you, SO WHY NOT SHARE IT! It won't hurt, HONEST!!!!
TR...... That is so much bullcrap, you are so brainwashed. these two slum scum bag liberals killed that innocent young lady for no reason at all. Liberals kill more people in one week than all conservatives do in a year.
They could work at McDonalds but by doing the killing showed how they felt they didn't have to work instead just steal. Straight up they are lazy and refuse to do hard work otherwise they would have found any kind of job.
Get lost TROLL
The Republicans, Really! What an Idiot!. Why don't we start with taking away 22 of the 23 assistants that queen Michelle has Moron! Or take half of the wealth of the 10 richest Dumbocrats in Congress or the Senate. The richest people in the Government are Dumbocrats!!!Nancy Pislosi has many NON UNION hotels and stays at 10K a night Hotels only and you blame the Republicans! You're either a useful IDIOT or a Dumbocrat operative. Get your head out of your obami shrines statues ASS Buddy. Oh and I wonder if obami had a son would he look like one of these two LOSERS!
This killing has nothing to do with your right to bear arms. It has to do with 2 punks killing an Innocent woman. just keep you wise azz comments to yourself you dingo. just sayin
The two street thugs that killed this woman did not do it with a legal gun. They killed a white woman to get her car and money, but screwed that up because they are punks kids with no discipline at home -- and probably no father.
Where is the outrage from the left. Oh that's right it was two black gang bangers who killed a white woman, so no big deal.
There will be 0 outrage from the left. This is just another example of the undeclared war on whites by blacks in America. Roughly 1,600 whites are murdered each year in this country by blacks with a mere shrug of the shoulders from the media. Rest assured if this situation were reversed, the city would be in riot mode. WAKE UP!
Someone call Jackson and Sharpten, they will take care of those LOW LIFE SCUMBAGS!!
Yeah, thats what I thought these guys would look like. No suprises here. Scum people that rather rob and kill for money than even try just a little to get a job and become a productive member of society. Like the young lady that they killed for nothing. And don't give me that crap about no education and no opportunities because I sat next to guys just like them in school. That is when they decided to show up. I all comes down to how they live their lives. It IS their choice. And they choose to kill and rob. Scum bags one and all.
These two have been labelled as Liberals and than as thugs. Someone when as far as saying they where liberal and as such killer for liberal kill more than conservative. Really people? It's not bad enough we have labelled ourselves and color coded ourselves now we are going take it a step farther.
Yes the two man murdered this beautiful young woman. They did and no one else, not the Liberals and certainly not all of the blacks in our country. It involved these to murderous men and no one else. Let's not make a bad situation worse by bring race and politics into it! Respect is needed here!
I disagree, whyislife. In NYC alone, 80% of gun crimes are caused by those from only 25% percent of the population. A white person is three times more likely to be victimized in random crimes by blacks than whites. Every city with a large African-American population has major problems with violent crime. While many comments on here are racist, it is not racist--and it's downright morally and intellectually bankrupt--to label those as racist those who quote crime statistics on race. Anybody with sense realizes that it was centuries of neglect and subjugation that led to the current level of violent crime in the African-American communities. Still, time to stop making excuses for violent career criminals who are destroying life, and a way of life, for the entire country.
Cold blooded murder of a young white woman in her car by two black teenagers. Where is all the outrage? You will certainly not hear it from the black community. Where is Sharpton, Jackson, Holder and el presidente? Oh yea...this was black on white and the MSM downplays this type of crime.
Illustrates that stereotyping and being wary of blacks will most likely keep you alive. Sad but true.
I am with you Tom! Where are they?!?!?! WELL?!?!?!? It is like they are saying - no big deal if a black kills a white - but if it is the other way around - call out the armed guard!!! How dare someone kill a black. Well - Al Sharpton and Jackson - you are hypocrites! Secondly, how are you justifying the actions when black idiots kill each other????
whyislife, no respect is needed here, they were two black bottom feeding scum bag liberals who killed in cold blood. You want to talk about color coded as you say, well bring it on. If you don't care for obama, then you are branded a racist, by the liberal azzwipes. I could go on, but I don't think your small mind could comprehend what I would say to you.
Francis (the talking jacka$$) Slay says this is all because of the availability of guns. I guess maybe he can try to explain why we have plenty of guns in rural Missouri and we do not have nearly as much violent crime. It just happens that most of the crime happens in the areas that vote democratic. Is this becuse people with lesser intellectual ability tend to resort to violence rather than reason?
So, how come when a guy tells another guy he killed someone... the other guy goes to prison too... but when a guy tells a woman he killed someone....she is still sitting at home free as a bird???!?!!!! Anyone else see a problem with this?
I am so sick of seeing black men plastered all over the dang paper! Will you guys sit your sorry a$$'s down somewhere and figure out how you can BE PRODUCTIVE members of society??!??!?? If you would put more time to trying to be successful and mapping out a career like the rest of the world instead of working to figure out how you can steal, cheat, or kill someone for something you don't want to work for - you would be incredibly better off! I can read some minds now - "Why work for it when I can steal it or kill to get it??" Sad!!!
I am so not identifying with the black race and I am black! These little thugs of today are out of control and something has to be done! WHERE IS THE BLEACH!!!
To the family of this beautiful young lady - I am so sorry that she encountered such horrible individuals. Those who could care less about the quality of life and what it means to others. I can only hope that they are removed from this earth. It is so sad that we have people like them among us - only if we could roll back time. Not all backs are from the same grain as these two thugs. Some of us are well educated, contribute to society and live to make a difference. It is just so sad that these guys did not have strong enough support to help them understand how they should live and respect others.
What a couple of pieces of crap... What do you expect from two guys with a total IQ of 40...
Sorry for the parents... not a nice world out there...
Has anyone heard from the NAACP, Sharpton or suedo preacher Jesse Jackson... no, will they say something?... no, oh, I get it... they only say something if the roles were reversed... wow, talking about staying on one side of the tracks...
So sorry for beautiful Megan in the wrong place at the wrong time. Peace to her family and friends.
Amen Segdirb! I think in the very near future people will start identifying themselves not by color but my morals and ethics. What a damn shame!!!! I hold my head down in shame. It is time for tax paying, hard working, law abiding Blacks to rise up and say not only no more, but I will not make excuses for such savages!!! I am sure there are racists, specifically white racists who are agreeing with the savage part of my comment, but I could care less. Enough is enough!!!! We as a people need to stop protecting those who are unworthy of our protection and are bringing our race down for fear of being portrayed negatively or accused of being a sell out. If selling out means not condoning such behavior, I am a sell out!!!! Further I embrace it as long as I am no how, no way associated with such animals!!!
Two thugs murdered an innocent girl. That's the story. Some of you want to add more to it to make yourself feel big. It just makes you smaller.
I agree AT...Its a damn shame...dont Defend these NO GOODS.. in no shape...form..or fashion.....Pray for that Girl and her family........those heartless hollow heads need to pay for that to the MAX totally unecessary and such a blatant disregard for human life.
Do either of these two imbeciles look like they could be Obama's son? I'll guarantee there will be no more media interest in this story after today but lord knows if it was an an innocent black girl brutally killed, then Al Dm Az Sharpton would be on the first flight to stir up unrest & demand his beloved and enslaved community get some restitution;With him in front of "da" line.
Really? That is what this is about? Not just some thugs killing a girl. It is all about Obama. It is about Sharpton. For chrissake. Get a life. They are criminals. They will be in jail for life. This is a crime. Not politics. Do you get it? Not politics. Not everything is about race and politics. This is a sad story about a sweet girl killed by criminals. It is human interest. Be a human.
I wonder if the good Reverend Sharpton is going to show up and comfort the family of the deceased? This is worse than the Treyvon Martin case. The victim was killed not by one person but by two. Also the victim in this case was a female taking on two men not a man taking on a teenage boy. The two guys shot her twice, killing her in the process and then robbed her. Talk about adding insult to injury. I have a sneaking suspicion that the good Reverend Al Sharpton won't even bat an eyelash at this tragedy. And since there is no political gain to had out of this story Jesse Jackson won't even blink at it. I would bet a years salary that if the circumstances were reversed and two white guys killed a black girl with all the other statistics being the same (age, weight, height,...) both Al and Jesse would be busting doors down to get to the family of the deceased. It is a tragedy and a shame that the young woman lost her life and my condolences go out to her family. It is also a tragedy and a shame that both of these young men will not be put to death. Hell, one of them might even not get life in prison.
No need to inject race into this........I've seen every shade or lack thereof unfortunately do the same or similar thing and it certainly does not have anything more to do with President Obama than it has to do with YOU personally.
They were just pure @!$%#bags, that need to fry for killing such an innocent young lady........terrible!!!
Trayvon and Zimmerman had nothing to do with Obama either yet he made a public statement about it. So he made it about him. People wonder why he only made the comment when the roles were reversed. He not only put himself into this position he also made it about race by his statement.
What does that case down in Florida, have to do with this girl dying behind the gun these two thugs in Missouri and the nations capital is a stretch as well but keep connecting the dots hope your pictue eventually shows up........
This shows everything about the double standard in this country. When a white person shoots a black person here comes Jesse Jacka$$, rev. Al, the worthless president saying it could be his kid, the AG saying the justice department will be investigating if it is a hate crime.......... When a couple of black thugs kill a white person there is nothing. Where is the outrage?
This story makes me sick. Hang 'em!
yep. Looks like the Nanny State is doing a fine job here, just fine. Too bad these punks can't just be put down, but that would have the Liberals up in arms.