News – Wednesday, February 26th 2025

On December 12th, 2021, Marvin Rice was charged with two counts of 1st degree murder for the deaths of Annette Durham, his former girlfriend, and Steven Strotkamp, Durham’s boyfriend. The state certified the case for Capital Punishment (potential death sentence) and venue was transferred to St. Charles County after a mistrial in Wayne County, the jury convicted Rice of One Count of Murder in the 1st Degree (Durham) and One Count of Murder in the 2nd Degree (Strotkamp). The jury was unable to unanimously agree on the sentence and by law, the sentencing reverted to Judge Parker, who sentenced Rice to death in Count One and a concurrent sentence of life in Count Two. Rice appealed his convictions and sentences to the Missouri Supreme Court. The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction of Murder in the 1st Degree, but reversed for a new sentencing phase in Count One and a new guilt phase in Count Two. The new sentencing phase was held March 25th – April 1st, 2022. Presiding over the sentencing was Judge Daniel Pelikan of St. Charles, Missouri. At the conclusion of the sentencing hearing, the jury found the existence of statutory required aggravating circumstances and further found that the aggravating circumstances outweighed the mitigating circumstances and thereby recommend a sentence of death. On May 23rd, 2022, Judge Pelikan sentenced Rice to life without the possibility of parole. Rice later pled guilty to Count Two and was sentenced to a concurrent 25-year sentence in the Missouri Department of Corrections. On November 9th, 2022, Rice filed a pro se motion to set aside his conviction of Murder in the 1st degree. Prosecutor Andrew M. Curley filed a response and a motion to dismiss Rice’s motion. By law, the public defender system was appointed to represent Rice. The court appointed attorney amended Rice’s motion on July 10th, 2024, alleging that Rice’s former attorneys failed to exercise the customary skill and diligence that reasonably competent attorneys would have by not investigating and present evidence showing that Rice had not shot Durham was she was lying on the ground; and also failing to consult, retain, and call a pharmacological expert to support Rice’s defense that his prescription drug regiment affected his ability to deliberate. On September 23rd, 2024, a hearing was held in St. Charles concerning prosecutor Curley’s motion to dismiss, which was taken under advisement, but ultimately denied on October 9th, 2024. On December 16th, 2024, an evidentiary hearing was held on Rice’s request for relief. Prosecutor Curley represented the state of Missouri and Marvin Rice appeared, along with his attorney, after being transported from the department of corrections. Rice’s former attorneys, a pharmacy professor and forensic pathologist testified on behalf of Rice at the hearing. Following their testimony, arguments were heard from Prosecutor Curley and Rice’s attorney. On February 18th, 2025, Judge Pelikan overruled and denied Rice’s motion.

The Healthy Dent County Fitness Center will be holding a youth Salem Spring Volleyball League at the Salem Community Center@The Armory Gymnasium at 1200 West Rolla Road for kids age 5 through the 6th grade. This introductory league helps children learn fundamentals, teamwork and sportsmanship while participating in games to get experience. Register your child by Friday, February 28th. Registration forms are only available at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. Please complete the forms and return them to Armory. For more information, call 573-247-8085 and talk with Dottie Steelman.