Woman who took cellphone from CVS homicide scene sentenced to prison

Judge Benjamin Lewis sentenced Yaunique D. Cain, 21, of Cape Girardeau to four years in prison for her role in tampering with evidence in the killing of KeMari Childress on Feb. 27 at the CVS Pharmacy, 2161 William St., in Cape Girardeau.

But because of previous crimes, Cain was sentenced to 15 years overall.

A probable-cause document issued in the case stated that Cain retrieved a cellphone from the crime scene to prevent officers from collecting it as evidence.

Yaunique Cain

Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Welker said Cain was offered no deal in exchange for her guilty plea. Lewis imposed the maximum sentence on the tampering charge, then went further.

At the time of the homicide, Cain was on probation for second-degree burglary and third-degree assault. A suspended imposition of sentence was issued in those cases, meaning the judge gave probation in the case, but could impose the sentences if Cain violated the conditions of probation. Lewis revoked Cain’s probation and imposed sentences of seven years of imprisonment for the burglary charge and four years for the assault case. Lewis ordered each sentence to be served consecutively.

Cain was charged in 2021 with first-degree burglary, third-degree assault and theft of a vehicle. A probable-cause document in that case indicated Cain and a friend broke into a home and "ambushed" two victims, according to a witness statement provided in the probable-cause statement. Cain then stole the vehicle at the house.

Childress, 17, the Feb. 27 victim, was shot in the head after an altercation. She was a pharmacy technician and a recent graduate from Central Academy of Cape Girardeau, according to her obituary.

Police say Cain, about 10 minutes after the shooting, returned to the crime scene and reached beyond the area cordoned off by police tape to retrieve a cellphone from the ground. After initially telling police the phone she went to retrieve was hers, she later admitted the phone belonged to Tre’marion Jones, who was charged with first-degree murder and other charges. Cain told police Jones used a small black handgun that he had been carrying with him all day, the probable-cause statement says.

Jones, the victim’s ex-boyfriend, was charged with first-degree murder and three counts of armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, felony assault and resisting arrest. An errant shot also injured a construction worker who was working nearby.

The prosecutor’s office also charged Zhamius Smith of Caruthersville with hindering prosecution and resisting a lawful stop.