Charges dismissed against suspect in 2016 murder in Sedalia

SEDALIA, Mo. (AP) - Charges have been dismissed against one of two people charged in a June 2016 death in Sedalia.

Pettis County Prosecuting Attorney Phillip Sawyer said Wednesday he was dropping first-degree murder and first-degree arson charges against Cody Harvey of Sedalia in the June 2016 death of 30-year-old Matthew Eldenburg.

The Sedalia Democrat reports (https://bit.ly/2qJEpx1 ) the same charges remain against Aran Cantrell, also of Sedalia. His trial is scheduled for July.

Sawyer said admissible evidence was not sufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Harvey committed the crimes. He said the problem with evidence involves a non-law enforcement witness who gave false or inaccurate statements about what occurred.

Eldenburg died in a fire at his Sedalia home. Autopsy results showed he was alive when the fire began.

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Information from: The Sedalia Democrat, https://www.sedaliademocrat.com