Krajcir not to appear Thursday in Cape Girardeau court

Alleged serial killer Timothy W. Krajcir will not appear in Cape Girardeau County court today as expected, said prosecuting attorney Morley Swingle.

Authorities expected to have transported Krajcir, 63, to Cape Girardeau County Jail from Tamms Correctional Center in Tamms, Il., earlier this week, but a Christmas Eve charge filed by the Williamson County State's attorney Charles Garnati delayed the plans, said Swingle.

Garnati has not formally announced the charges against Krajcir as of Wednesday, but Marion police named him at a Dec. 13 news conference as "a distinct person of interest" the 1978 killing of Virginia Lee Witte.

On Dec. 10, Krajcir pleaded guilty to the 1982 murder of Deborah Sheppard in Carbondale, Ill., and Swingle charged him with the 1977 murders of Brenda and Mary Parsh and Sheila Cole, as well as the 1982 rapes and murders of Margie Call and Mildred Wallace, and one additional rape, also in 1982.

Authorities still anticipate Krajcir arrving in Cape Girardeau in time to make an initial court appearance Monday, Swingle said.

Gov. Matt Blunt released a statement expressing his frustration with the delay, but saying he would not jump to any conclusions.

"There is no reason to believe that Illinois does not wish to see Krajcir brought to justice for all of his crimes," Blunt said in a prepared statement.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

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