Indictments Made in Pasco Murder

By James McNary

Articles Editor

A Lawrence County grand jury has formally handed down a number of indictments as of Sept. 22 in the Aug. 16 kidnapping and murder of Aurora resident Sarah Pasco, whose body was found in a well in rural Lawrence County west of Miller. Another individual was injured in the shooting that killed Pasco.

The purported shooter, Gary W. Hunter, Jr., 24, of Mt. Vernon, has been charged with 11 individual counts, including murder in the first degree. Other charges against Hunter include: armed criminal action (for first degree murder), assault in the first degree (injuring a witness), two counts of armed criminal action for first degree assault, robbery in the first degree (for vehicular theft), robbery in the first degree (theft of glasses), robbery in the first degree (theft of shoes), robbery in the first degree (theft of heroin/controlled substance), felony kidnapping, felony (B) unlawful use of a weapon (firing into a vehicle). Most charges include the aggravating circumstance of being armed with a deadly weapon.

The other eight suspects indicted by the grand jury include: Andrew J. Cypret, 27, of rural Billings; Christina N. Knapp, 36, of Stotts City; Diona L. Parks, 26, of Mt. Vernon; Siera L. Dunham, 18, of Mt. Vernon; Lyle Buzz Delong, 23, of Stotts City; Steven C. Calverly, 30, listed as from Republic; Kimberly K. Henderson, 47, listed as from Stotts City; and Frank J. Sheridan, Jr., 27, of Aurora. All are facing eight charges, each, for murder in the first degree, armed criminal action (for first degree murder), felony assault (causing injury to a witness), armed criminal action (for felony assault), robbery (for vehicular theft), armed criminal action in the first degree (for robbery), kidnapping in the first degree, and armed criminal action (for kidnapping). Most charges include the aggravating circumstance of being armed with a deadly weapon.

In addition to the eight charges they are already facing, several suspects also have additional charges.

Cypret is facing an additional charge for his role in the theft of the heroin, tampering with evidence by burning a vehicle, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Parks and Delong are also facing additional charges for their role in tampering with evidence by burning a vehicle, an incident which occurred in Dade County.

Knapp is facing an additional charge of unlawful possession of a firearm.

Dunham is facing additional charges for robbery relating to her role in the theft of the glasses and shoes of Pasco, both while armed with a deadly weapon, just prior to her death.