Woman gets 15 years for her part in murder case

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- A woman will spend 15 years in prison for her role in a man's 2024 murder.

Melanie Myers, 24, of Independence, Missouri, appeared in front of Circuit Judge Daniel Kellogg on Monday and entered a guilty plea to a felony charge of attempted first-degree robbery in the Nov. 10, 2024, death of Dustin Allen Graham. Myers initially was charged with second-degree murder in Graham's death, but that count was dismissed by prosecutors.

According to a probable cause statement filed in the case, Myers arranged a meeting with Graham as part of an attempted robbery and drove with him in his vehicle to the 1900 block of Jules Street at about noon on Nov. 10. In a parking lot there, a co-defendant, Brian M. Helm, partially blocked Graham's vehicle with his own truck. Helm then allegedly approached Graham, who was still in the driver seat of his vehicle, and fired a shot that hit Graham on the left side just below his armpit, court records said.

Graham attempted to drive away but only made it a block before stopping, the probable cause statement said. He was taken to Mosaic Life Care where he was pronounced dead.

Helm faces multiple charges, including second-degree murder, armed criminal action, attempted robbery and unlawful use of a weapon in Graham's death. His case is scheduled for a trial setting at 8:30 a.m. on April 29, in front of Circuit Court Judge Kate Schaefer.