Will be updated.
Updated 4:04 p.m. with breakdown of alleged course of events in case.
Updated 3:18 p.m. with information from CrimeStoppers
Original Story posted 3:12 p.m. Aug. 24:
Two men, both 18, have been charged with the murder and attempted robbery of Megan Boken.
The names of the men and charges are as follows, according to the office of St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce:
Keith Esters has been charged with 1st Degree Murder, 1st Degree Attempted Robbery, and two counts of Armed Criminal Action. Johnathan Perkins has been charged with 2nd Degree Murder, 2nd Degree Attempted Robbery, and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.
A spokeswoman for the Circuit Attorney's office says there will be no bond for either man.
The full probable cause statements are below for you to read, however, here is a breakdown of the events as depicted in the statements:
Important Note: all of the events as described below are only alleged until convictions have been made in a court of law:
- Johnathan Perkins agreed to drive Keith Esters to the Central West End to commit a robbery.
- Perkins drove Esters to the Central West End. Once there, Esters that he saw Megan Boken speaking on her cell phone and decided that she would be the target of a robbery (the statement says Esters stated this to police).
- Esters approached Boken with a handgun, and during the course of attempting to take her property, Esters shot Boken twice.
- An eye witness observed Keith Esters running from the scene immediately after Boken was shot. The same witness positively identified Esters as the person running from the scene.
- Boken was found dead inside her vehicle. She was shot two times in the chest and neck.
Keith Esters probable cause statement
Johnathan Perkins probable cause statement
St. Louis Regional CrimeStoppers has issued a statement regarding the case saying:
CrimeStoppers has stopped taking donations towards the “Megan Boken REWARD FUND”...Tip information was not the determining factor in making the arrest of the subjects responsible for this homicide...
CrimeStoppers also says the fund eventually reached just over $40,000, and the money would either be returned or retained by the donors.
We will update with more information here as we know it. There is also a press conference scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
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