A Keytesville woman charged with second degree murder in January 2023 has a trial set for Thursday, September 7 in Chariton County Circuit.

According to a probable cause statement, authorities were dispatched to a residence in Keytesville on Friday, January 20, 2023 in reference to a report from Sherri Laws to 911 dispatchers that her fiance had been shot twice by an unknown male after an attempted break in at her home. Laws also told dispatchers that she had allegedly shot the unknown male, later identified as Jacob Abney of Grandview twice. Authorities observed Abney deceased in a truck in the driveway. Authorities located the fiance, identified as James Johnson alive near the truck with gunshot wounds to the lower abdomen.

During an interview, Laws stated to authorities, Abney had allegedly arrived at the residence to purchase $6,000 of marijuana. Johnson allowed Abney into the residence. Evidence at the scene indicated Abney was shot and killed during the attempted sale. Laws stated Abney had allegedly fired a handgun in the residence, forced her to bind Johnson’s hands and had stolen the marijuana. Laws stated she retrieved her 9 millimeter handgun and gunshots were exchanged outside the residence.. Laws hid the handgun near a fence on the property and later took authorities to where the handgun was hidden.

According to court documents, Laws pleaded not guilty in July 2023 to felonies for second degree murder, armed criminal action, delivery of a controlled substance and two counts of tampering with physical evidence in felony prosecution.

The trial-setting hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, September 7, at Chariton County Circuit Court.