Suspect arraigned on murder charge

NEW MADRID, Mo. — During his arraignment Thursday morning, Eliot D. Bonner, 27, of St. Charles, Mo., was informed he could face the death penalty if found guilty for the Oct. 31 shooting death of Monica Keenlance.

As New Madrid County Associate Judge Joshua Underwood read the charges, Bonner stood quietly listening to each count. In addition to first degree murder, which carries a penalty of death or life in prison, Bonner is charged with armed criminal action and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Underwood told Bonner his application for a public defender to represent him in court would be reviewed. The judge ordered Bonner to return to court on April 22.

Bonner was recently brought back to Missouri from a jail in McCulloch County, Texas. He was arrested by Brady, Texas, authorities on Nov. 14 for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Missouri authorities have stated a tip led them to Bonner. They allege Bonner shot Keenlance around noon Oct. 31 at the southbound Interstate 55 rest area near Marston.

At that time of his arrest in Texas, Bonner was driving a car described by a witness at the rest stop as being used by the suspected assailant to flee the scene. Although there were few clues at the scene, officers did find a spent shell casing, determining the gun used to shoot Keenlance was a .380 caliber or 9 millimeter weapon.

According to the probable cause statement by New Madrid County Deputy Zach Albright, the gun which Bonner had in his possession at his arrest in Texas and the projectile found at the scene in Missouri were matched by the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Crime Lab.

New Madrid County Sheriff Terry Stevens said it is believed Keenlance, who was in her 50s, had been at the rest area for several days. He noted the Illinois woman received a disability check and would travel until her money ran out then wait at a rest area until receiving money to resume her travels.

In the probable cause statement, Bonner reportedly stated he shot Keenlance “because the female called him a racial slur.”