Waller Pleads Guilty

June 6, 2013

Clay Waller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of his wife, Jacque Waller, Thursday, June 6, 2013, inside the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. Jacque Waller went missing June 1, 2011. Her body was found last Wednesday in Southern Illinois.

Laura Simon

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Clay Waller looks up as Cape Girardeau County Circuit Judge Ben Lewis addresses him, Thursday, June 6, 2013, at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. Waller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of his wife, Jacque Waller. Jacque Waller went missing June 1, 2011. Her body was found last Wednesday in Southern Illinois.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Cheryl Brenneke, left, embraces Wendi Bird Barnhart inside the courtroom, Thursday, June 6, 2013, at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. Clay Waller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of Brenneke's sister, Jacque Waller. Jacque Waller went missing June 1, 2011. Her body was found last Wednesday in Southern Illinois.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Cheryl Brenneke gives her victim impact statement, Thursday, June 6, 2013, at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. Clay Waller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of Brenneke's sister, Jacque Waller. Jacque Waller went missing June 1, 2011. Her body was found last Wednesday in Southern Illinois.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Cheryl Brenneke gives her victim impact statement, Thursday, June 6, 2013, at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. Clay Waller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of the Brenneke's sister, Jacque Waller. Jacque Waller went missing June 1, 2011. Her body was found last Wednesday in Southern Illinois.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Stan and Ruby Rawson react as their daughter Cheryl Brenneke gives her victim impact statement, Thursday, June 6, 2013, at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. Clay Waller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of the Rawson's other daughter, Jacque Waller. Jacque Waller went missing June 1, 2011. Her body was found last Wednesday in Southern Illinois.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Clay Waller signs his plea agreement Thursday, June 6, 2013, at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. Waller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of his wife, Jacque Waller. Jacque Waller went missing June 1, 2011. Her body was found last Wednesday in Southern Illinois.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Clay Waller hangs his head as Cheryl Brenneke gives her victim impact statement, Thursday, June 6, 2013, at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. Waller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of Brenneke's sister, Jacque Waller. Jacque Waller went missing June 1, 2011. Her body was found last Wednesday in Southern Illinois.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Clay Waller and his public defender Chris Davis address Cape Girardeau County Circuit Judge Ben Lewis, Thursday, June 6, 2013, at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. Waller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of his wife, Jacque Waller. Jacque Waller went missing June 1, 2011. Her body was found last Wednesday in Southern Illinois.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Assistant prosecutor Angel Woodruff addresses the courtroom, Thursday, June 6, 2013, at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. Clay Waller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of his wife, Jacque Waller. Jacque Waller went missing June 1, 2011. Her body was found last Wednesday in Southern Illinois.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Clay Waller raises his right hand as he is sworn in by Cape Girardeau County Circuit Judge Ben Lewis addresses him, Thursday, June 6, 2013, at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. Waller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of his wife, Jacque Waller. Jacque Waller went missing June 1, 2011. Her body was found last Wednesday in Southern Illinois.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Stan and Ruby Rawson watch Clay Waller as he is escourted into the courtroom, Thursday, June 6, 2013, at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. Clay Waller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of the Rawson's daughter, Jacque Waller. Jacque Waller went missing June 1, 2011. Her body was found last Wednesday in Southern Illinois.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Ruby Rawson looks at Clay Waller as he takes his seat, Thursday, June 6, 2013, inside the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. Waller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of Rawson's daughter, Jacque Waller. Jacque Waller went missing June 1, 2011. Her body was found last Wednesday in Southern Illinois.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com FBI agent Brian W. Ritter enters the courtroom along with other law enforcement officials, Thursday, June 6, 2013, at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. Clay Waller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of his wife, Jacque Waller. Jacque Waller went missing June 1, 2011. Her body was found last Wednesday in Southern Illinois.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Stan and Ruby Rawson enter the courtroom, Thursday, June 6, 2013, at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. Clay Waller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of the Rawson's daughter, Jacque Waller. Jacque Waller went missing June 1, 2011. Her body was found last Wednesday in Southern Illinois.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com People fill the courtroom during Clay Waller's plea hearing, Thursday, June 6, 2013, at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. Waller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of his wife, Jacque Waller. Jacque Waller went missing June 1, 2011. Her body was found last Wednesday in Southern Illinois.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Assistant prosecutor Angel Woodruff addresses Cape Girardeau County Circuit Judge Ben Lewis, Thursday, June 6, 2013, at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. Clay Waller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of his wife, Jacque Waller. Jacque Waller went missing June 1, 2011. Her body was found last Wednesday in Southern Illinois.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Clay Waller and his public defender Chris Davis stand before Cape Girardeau County Circuit Judge Ben Lewis addresses him, Thursday, June 6, 2013, at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. Waller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of his wife, Jacque Waller. Jacque Waller went missing June 1, 2011. Her body was found last Wednesday in Southern Illinois.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Cape Girardeau County Circuit Judge Ben Lewis verifies Clay Waller's signature on his plea agreement, Thursday, June 6, 2013, at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. Waller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of his wife, Jacque Waller. Jacque Waller went missing June 1, 2011. Her body was found last Wednesday in Southern Illinois.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Jacque Waller's family wait inside the courtroom, Thursday, June 6, 2013, at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. Clay Waller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of his wife, Jacque Waller. Jacque Waller went missing June 1, 2011. Her body was found last Wednesday in Southern Illinois.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Cheryl Brenneke hugs Wendi Bird Barnhart Thursday, June 6, 2013, inside the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. Clay Waller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of the Brenneke's sister, Jacque Waller. Jacque Waller went missing June 1, 2011. Her body was found last Wednesday in Southern Illinois.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Clay Waller walks to the podium to face Cape Girardeau County Circuit Judge Ben Lewis Thursday, June 6, 2013, to pleading guilty to second-degree murder for the death of his wife, Jacque Waller. Jacque Waller went missing June 1, 2011. Her body was found last Wednesday in Southern Illinois.

Submitted by Lt. David James

This photo submitted by Lt. David James shows FBI and local authorities digging at the site where Jacque Waller was buried by her husband, Clay Waller, after her death on June 1, 2011.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Clay Waller leaves the courtroom Thursday, June 6, 2013, inside the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. Waller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of his wife Jacque Waller. Jacque Waller went missing June 1, 2011. Her body was found last Wednesday in Southern Illinois.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Stan and Ruby Rawson sit behind Clay Waller Thursday, June 6, 2013, inside the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. Waller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of the Rawson's daughter, Jacque Waller. Jacque Waller went missing June 1, 2011. Her body was found last Wednesday in Southern Illinois.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Cheryl Brenneke gives an emotional victim impact statement Thursday, June 6, 2013, inside the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. Clay Waller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of the Brenneke's sister, Jacque Waller. Jacque Waller went missing June 1, 2011. Her body was found last Wednesday in Southern Illinois.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Cape Girardeau County Circuit Judge Ben Lewis addresses Clay Waller, Thursday, June 6, 2013, at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. Waller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of his wife, Jacque Waller. Jacque Waller went missing June 1, 2011. Her body was found last Wednesday in Southern Illinois.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Public defender Amy Commean reacts as Cheryl Brenneke gives her victim impact statement, Thursday, June 6, 2013, at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. Clay Waller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of Brenneke's sister, Jacque Waller. Jacque Waller went missing June 1, 2011. Her body was found last Wednesday in Southern Illinois.

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