Suspect in 2008 Cape Girardeau murder makes court appearance

After more than a year on the run for allegedly shooting and killing her estranged husband's lover, Tambra Turner appeared via video feed in a Cape Girardeau County courtroom Thursday morning.

Prosecutors chose to consolidate several charges pending against the former Sikeston, Mo., woman in connection with the Feb. 22, 2008, murder of Chabreshea Egson, said Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle.

A preliminary hearing was set for 1 p.m. July 9 before Associate Circuit Judge Gary Kamp.

The evening of Feb. 21, 2008, Turner allegedly took a tree limb to three windows of the residence at 1523 N. Spanish St., where Egson and Lloyd Gilmore, Turner's husband, were staying together.

She caused more than $750 worth of damage to the house and allegedly returned to the house several hours later to shoot Egson, according to court documents.

Egson suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was transported to an area hospital, where she was pronounced dead by Cape Girardeau County Coroner John Clifton.

A witness at the scene later identified Turner as the woman who intruded into the residence and fired into the bedroom where Egson was shot.

Turner allegedly told a friend she fired the shots but didn't know whether she'd hit anyone before she ran, fleeing the scene in her blue Mustang, according to court documents.

Police hoped Turner would turn herself in so they could interview her about the homicide, but she didn't. Charges were filed against her for first-degree murder, burglary and armed criminal action. The property damage charge has been added to the filing so it will not be treated as a separate case.

She was arrested last week in Chicago on a federal fugitive warrant issued last year.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

1523 N. Spanish St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.