Myra Osborne

Background

Myra Osborne of Vandalia, Mo. was the former co-worker of Carol Andrews, a 72-year-old woman in Roodhouse. Osborne had worked for Andrews at a Roodhouse convenience store. Osborne also lived in Roodhouse until about a year before the killing.

Greene County State’s Attorney Matthew J. Goetten said the guilty plea was the culmination of nearly a year of work by various law enforcement agencies, including the Illinois State Police, Greene County Sheriff’s Department and the Roodhouse Police Department. He also said, “The Illinois State Police Crime Lab in Springfield provided invaluable forensic support.”

Osborne’s husband, Ricky J. Osborne, turned himself in at the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department in Jacksonville, but all charges against him later were dropped.

The offence

Authorities said Carol Andrews was found dead in her Roodhouse home. Osborne was accused of duct-taping Andrews’ nose and mouth during a robbery. Authorities said Andrews died of asphyxiation.

On March 19, neighbors went to Andrews’ home about 10 p.m. to check on her at the request of a family member who lives in another state, and they found her body.

Along with three counts of first-degree murder, Osborne initially faced charges of residential burglary, unlawful use of a credit card and receiving the debit card of another.

Investigation

Osborne turned herself in to Morgan County authorities after an arrest warrant was issued accusing her of using Andrews’ debit/ATM card at a Roodhouse business on March 18. She had been held without bail at the Greene County Jail in Carrollton since she turned herself in and was arrested in March 2008.

Goetten said: “Cooperation from individuals and businesses in Roodhouse and the surrounding communities was vital in assisting my office in obtaining a warrant and, ultimately, a conviction in this case.”

Goetten also said:

“While I have to credit the Illinois State Police for providing the technical expertise and manpower for the majority of the evidence collected, without the efforts of Roodhouse Police Chief Steve Speeks and Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Cale Hoesman, the evidence in this case would have been far less compelling,” Goetten said.

He further said:

“Unfortunately, there is no disposition available to adequately compensate the family and the community for the loss of Carol,” he said.

“However, in light of evidentiary issues and available sentencing options, (Friday’s) plea is a positive outcome for Carol’s family, Roodhouse and Greene County.”

Arrest

Osborne turned herself in to Morgan County authorities last March 25 after an arrest warrant was issued accusing her of using Andrews’ debit/ATM card at a Roodhouse business on March 18.

Trial

On March 5, 2011, Osborne entered a guilty plea in Greene County Circuit Court. Circuit Judge James Day immediately sentenced Osborne to 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

The plea brought an end to a case that began last March 19, when Andrews was found dead in her Roodhouse home.

The article said it remained unclear Friday whether the other charges against Osborne had been dropped in exchange for her guilty plea.

Sentencing

Circuit Judge James Day sentenced Osborne to 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Goetten said Osborne will serve 100 percent of her sentence and that it would be considered to have started on March 25 of