COLUMBIA, Mo. — A jury convened Tuesday to hear opening statements in the trial of a Columbia man, Cadilac Derrick, implicated in the fatal shooting of two women in November last year. The 37-year-old faces multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, armed criminal action, domestic assault in the second degree, and child endangerment.
Derrick, who was initially charged with second-degree murder following the incident on Nov. 5, 2022, had his charges escalated by a grand jury on Dec. 16, 2022. The attack, which occurred on Boyd Lane, resulted in the deaths of Lea’johna Sanders, 22, with whom Derrick shared an infant child, and Laura Myers, 53, both residents of Columbia.
Assistant Prosecutor Risa Perkins led the prosecution’s presentation, emphasizing threatening text messages allegedly sent by Derrick to Sanders, which included explicit threats on her life. According to Perkins, these messages were sent just months before Sanders was killed.
In response, Derrick’s defense portrayed an alternative narrative of self-defense. His attorney cited physical evidence, autopsy reports, 911 calls, and toxicology records supporting Derrick’s claim that he acted in self-defense following an altercation fueled by the victims’ alleged intoxication.
Further, the defense posed that Myers instigated the confrontation by entering Derrick’s home and causing “chaos.” Tensions between Myers and Derrick had been notably strained prior to the incident. Following the shooting, Derrick himself reportedly used Sanders’ phone to inform the police of the events at Boyd Lane.
The trial opened with testimony from a Boone County Joint Communications records custodian who addressed a distressing 911 call made by Sanders on the night of the shooting. In the call, Sanders alleged that Derrick had threatened her life and the life of her mother if she attempted to leave him.
Two police officers who responded to the scene also testified. They recounted how they had to enter the residence with caution, utilizing a ballistic shield after being informed of the active shooting situation. Body camera footage from the officers captured the grim aftermath, showing Myers critically wounded.
One officer described discovering Myers with severe gunshot injuries and her audible struggle breathing. Amid the chaos, the same officer found and safely relocated an unharmed infant from the residence.
Another officer spoke about previously encountering Myers and Sanders during a separate incident, indicating a history of distress associated with the address. He detailed finding Sanders motionless, with visible injuries but still alive at the scene.
The selection of the jury, consisting of twelve individuals and two alternates, stretched nearly six hours, emphasizing the gravity of the trial proceedings.
Derrick, arrested in connection to the killings in November 2022, had a documented history of domestic violence and legal restraints against him, including previous charges of domestic abuse and child endangerment.
The outcome of this trial could pivot significantly on the interpretations of Derrick’s actions — whether as a defensive response or a premeditated attack. Proceedings are set to resume Wednesday morning at the Boone County Courthouse, as the community and families affected seek justice for the tragic incident that stirred Columbia last fall.