Jackson man arraigned on manslaughter charge

The case against a Jackson man accused of causing an accident that killed a Glenallen, Mo., teenager has been continued to Sept. 16 to give him time to hire an attorney.

Bobby Joe Abernathy, 34, appeared in court Tuesday via a video linkup to the Cape Girardeau County Jail for an initial arraignment on charges of involuntary manslaughter and second-degree assault in connection with an April 5 crash that killed 17-year-old Amelia Fisher.

Fisher was riding in an eastbound sport utility vehicle on Highway 34 in Cape Girardeau County when the westbound Slumberland Furniture truck Abernathy was driving crossed the centerline and collided with the SUV.

The crash killed Fisher and injured Abernathy; his passenger, Eric A. Smith of Cape Girardeau; and the SUV driver, Erin Cordell of Marble Hill, Mo.

According to a probable-cause statement filed May 19 by trooper Matt Keeney of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Smith said he had seen Abernathy smoking marijuana about 30 minutes before the accident. In a supplemental statement filed Aug. 20, Keeney reported a blood sample collected from Abernathy after the crash tested positive for marijuana and methamphetamine.

Outside the courtroom, Todd Buffington, who identified himself as Fisher's stepfather, said family members have been waiting months to see Abernathy charged.

"I hope he gets the full term for everything that he's gotten," Buffington said. "I don't think justice can ever be served in a case like that. In this case, if he's guilty, he ought to do the time that was allotted for him."

In court Tuesday, Abernathy told Judge Gary Kamp his family plans to hire a lawyer for him.

Kamp continued the case to 11 a.m. Sept. 16 to give Abernathy time to retain legal counsel.

In late April, Fisher's father, Christian Fisher, filed a wrongful-death suit against Abernathy; his employer, Slumberland Furniture; and Slumberland's parent company, Sleepy Hollow Furniture. The next hearing in that case is set for Nov. 4.

epriddy@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

Highway 34 and Route U, Burfordville, MO