Court reverses prior ruling, grants public defender to WP murder suspect

A 77-year-old West Plains man facing a first-degree murder charge will be represented by a public defender after a judge reversed an earlier determination that he did not qualify for court-appointed counsel. Larry Lindeman was indicted by a grand jury in February on charges of first-degree murder and felony armed criminal action. According to court records and police reports, the charges stem from a fatal shooting at a West Plains house Lindeman owns. After learning the property had recently been burglarized, Lindeman reportedly waited inside while armed. Investigators said he opened fire when two burglary suspects returned to the residence, apparently unaware he was inside. Hayden Hilleman, 23, of West Plains, was struck and died at the scene. The second suspect, Keith W. Geringer, 33, fled and was initially charged with second-degree murder under Missouri’s felony murder rule. Geringer later pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary on Oct.

This excerpt comes from the named source. Read the original for the full reporting.