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Next month marks the 21st anniversary of the death of Tammy Jo Cross who was found dead on a United States Forestry road in 1991. A jury will soon decide if her ex-husband Farrell W. Cross, 70, of Rolla, was responsible for her death.
However, that jury will not be from Phelps County.
Cross had been charged in the death of Tammy Jo just after the incident, but charges were dropped after prosecutors said they did not have enough evidence to convict him.
A new witness surfaced in 2010 — Cross’s former cell mate at the Phelps county Jail.
With the new witness in hand, prosecutors refiled charges against him.
Cross is defending himself against a charge of first- degree murder.
The man who shared a cell with Cross after his initial arrest testified at his preliminary hearing that Cross sought legal advice from him. In doing so, Cross allegedly confessed to murdering Tammy Jo.
The former cell mate testified that Cross said he followed Tammy Jo from a tavern in Newburg and shot her because he did not want to pay her child support.
Cross’ attorney filed paperwork toward the end of 2011 requesting a change of venue for the case, which was honored by 25th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Tracy Storie.
Storie ruled the case be moved not only out of Phelps County, but out of the 25th Judicial Circuit.
The case has been transfered to St. Francois County but no court case has been set.
If convicted, Cross may face the death penalty.
Next month marks the 21st anniversary of the death of Tammy Jo Cross who was found dead on a United States Forestry road in 1991. A jury will soon decide if her ex-husband Farrell W. Cross, 70, of Rolla, was responsible for her death.
However, that jury will not be from Phelps County.
Cross had been charged in the death of Tammy Jo just after the incident, but charges were dropped after prosecutors said they did not have enough evidence to convict him.
A new witness surfaced in 2010 — Cross’s former cell mate at the Phelps county Jail.
With the new witness in hand, prosecutors refiled charges against him.
Cross is defending himself against a charge of first- degree murder.
The man who shared a cell with Cross after his initial arrest testified at his preliminary hearing that Cross sought legal advice from him. In doing so, Cross allegedly confessed to murdering Tammy Jo.
The former cell mate testified that Cross said he followed Tammy Jo from a tavern in Newburg and shot her because he did not want to pay her child support.
Cross’ attorney filed paperwork toward the end of 2011 requesting a change of venue for the case, which was honored by 25th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Tracy Storie.
Storie ruled the case be moved not only out of Phelps County, but out of the 25th Judicial Circuit.
The case has been transfered to St. Francois County but no court case has been set.
If convicted, Cross may face the death penalty.
