Schallert pleads not guilty to murder charges

A West Frankfort man pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder Monday afternoon at the Franklin County Courthouse in Benton.

Michael A. Schallert, 29, of West Frankfort waived arraignment and entered the plea during a preliminary hearing, during which Judge E. Kyle Vantrease found probable cause for trial.

A pretrial conference was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 4, 2010.

Schallert faces two murder charges, along with two counts of armed robbery and two counts of home invasion, in the Oct. 18 shooting deaths of Kandis R. Majors and Terri A. Siebeck, both of West Frankfort.

Schallert’s alleged partner in the crime, Afton D. Ferris, 19, of Casper, Wyo., will be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. Friday. Ferris also faces two counts each of first-degree murder, armed robbery and home invasion.

Det. John Prudent of the West Frankfort Police Department was the only witness called Monday by Franklin County State’s Attorney Thomas J. Dinn.

Prudent said he was contacted Oct. 19 by dispatch and advised of a possible double homicide at a residence located at 213 N. Douglas in West Frankfort — a home shared by Majors and Siebeck.

Siebeck’s aunt told police she had found blood on the front door of the house, Prudent said. Upon arrival at the home, authorities “found two bodies lying on the floor, apparently deceased,” the detective said.

“They had been, apparently, shot several times,” Prudent said, noting that shell casings indicated a 22-caliber handgun had been used.

During the course of the investigation, he said, police learned that Schallert and Ferris had been residing in the Majors-Siebeck home for a month.

West Frankfort resident Brian Todich told police that on Oct. 18, Schallert and Ferris told him they had been at the Majors-Siebeck residence and had been told they were “being kicked out,” Prudent said.

Later that night, Prudent testified, Todich awoke to find a handwritten letter saying, “Sorry we did what we had to do,” and that a Ruger 22-caliber handgun was missing.

Investigators also found that the victims’ credit cards and vehicle were missing from their home.
Videotaped footage from the CC Mart in West Frankfort showed Schallert filling the vehicle with gasoline around 11 p.m. Oct. 18 and using the victims’ credit card to pay for the gas.

Authorities enlisted the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service, and on Oct. 21, Schallert and Ferris were found in a trailer in Fort Collins, Colo., Prudent said. Police Chief Jeff Tharp and Officer Mike Dinn of the WFPD went to Colorado, Prudent said, adding that he himself had viewed the videotape of Schallert’s interview with police.

“He said he had spoken with Kandis Majors and was told they were being kicked out,” Prudent said. “They waited for Todich to pass out and went back to rob and kill the victims.”

On the tape, Schallert said he and Ferris walked from Todich’s Laurel Avenue residence to the Douglas Street residence, Prudent said.

“He (Schallert) said someone was there visiting, so they waited,” Prudent said. “Then, they knocked on the door under the pretense that they were there making things right. Their true intent was to shoot them (Majors and Siebeck).”

Schallert said he then “went to the bedroom to gather himself ... words were exchanged ... then he pulled the gun and shot Majors several times, then turned the gun on Siebeck,” Prudent said. “The gun jammed and he reloaded it, then Afton Ferris took the gun and shot Siebeck.”

Schallert and Ferris then went through the residence, looking for their belongings, and then fled the area, the detective said.

On questioning by Schallert’s lead counsel, attorney Gene Gross of Du Quoin, Prudent said police had taken a statement from a woman who had been visiting Majors and Siebeck on Oct. 18. The woman said she had been at the house until sometime between 10:20 and 10:30 p.m.

Prudent also said Todich had advised Siebeck’s aunt that “there might be something wrong” after he had found the note and had discovered that a gun was missing. Prudent said he believed that Todich and the aunt had been married at one time.

A motion was also filed for an order to allow samples of fingerprints, palm prints, hair, blood and saliva of the defendants be taken, along with a sample of Schaller’s handwriting pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court rule 413.

— Mona Sandefur contributed to this story.