Crime & Safety

Manchester Meth Lab Update: Prosecutor Reviewing Case

The St. Louis County Prosecutor's Office is now reviewing the case of the Manchester meth lab fire to determine if warrants will be issued.

Captain Charles Hunn tells Town and Country - Manchester Patch that the investigation report was turned over to the St. Louis County Prosecutor's Office this week. 

Police are now waiting to hear back from prosecutors. Prosecutors will review the case and then determine if warrants will be issued on the three people Hunn said are charged in connection the March 22 fire sparked by a "shake and bake" meth lab fire at 1105 Holgate Drive.

"That's how long it takes sometimes. There's a lot more to these things. There's a lot that goes on in the background of this," Hunn explained. "They do as thorough of an investigation as possible before they present if to the prosecutor for review."

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Hunn said David Uland McClain, 32, of Hillsboro, Bruce Michael Sexton Jr., 35, of Fenton and Ann Renee Magee, 46, of Cedar Hill are all three charged with one felony count of intent to distribute/manufacture, one misdemeanor count of simple assault and one count of negligent burning or exploding.

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None of the three are from Manchester, but come from surrounding communities.

According to investigators and Casenet, Sexton already has a suspended prison sentence for drug charges in 1999.

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Hunn said Sexton and Magee have been released pending warrants, but McClain remains in custody with Jefferson County authorities on prior warrants. Hunn was not sure if those warrants were for drug charges.

Hunn said it may "take some time" for the prosecutor's office to detemine if warrants will be issued because "they deal with the cases for people who are in custody first."

"They'll make a determination whether they'll issue (warrants), or they'll refuse or they'll take it under advisement, which usually means there is more investigation to be done," Hunn explained. He is not sure when police will receive a decision from the prosecutor's office.

Linda Beard, the homeowner was not charged in connection to the crime. Beard's son, who was not home at the time of the fire, also has not been charged.

Hunn tells Patch that the homeowner is now in danger of not having her home damage covered by the insurance company. He said that is something Beard will have to deal with as a result of the drug lab explosion.

The house was condemned immediately after the fire.

Check back to Town and Country - Manchester Patch for updates as more details are released on this investigation.

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