Trial for woman facing assault, murder charges after October 2022 bar fight in Hannibal moved to June

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The trial for a Hannibal woman facing first-degree assault and second-degree murder charges after an October 2022 bar fight was scheduled to begin next month, but a judge now has moved it to June.

Tiara Bonner, 28, appeared Tuesday, Oct. 31 by video conference with Public Defender Austin Smith and Marion County Prosecuting Attorney Luke Bryant before Judge Matthew Wilson. The case was moved in January to Adair County on a change of venue request.

Smith had made a motion for a continuance, and Bonner indicated she agreed to the request, according to records on Missouri Casenet. Bryant did not object and said he had spoken with victim’s family. 

Wilson granted the motion for a continuance and vacated the jury trial scheduled for Dec. 12. The earliest trial date available for Wilson is June 25-28. A pre-trial conference will be held at 2 p.m. June 4.

A probable cause statement from the Hannibal Police Department says officers reported at around 1:50 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, to the 100 block of North Main to investigate an assault outside Rumors Bar and Grill. Dusty Wilson, 49, of Hannibal, was found by officers on Main Street with substantial head trauma. He was transported to Hannibal Regional Hospital and later to a trauma center in Columbia, Mo., where he died from his injuries.

Video footage from a bystander showed Jason Anderson of Hannibal walking away from Wilson’s body, claiming, “It’s like that. Don’t ever hit no female, bro.” His fists were clenched, and he was dressed in all gray clothing.

A witness reported Anderson kicking Wilson in the face, and the witness also saw Bonner striking Wilson. The witness said Wilson was seen backing into the street as a group ran up and started hitting him. Bonner allegedly stomped on Wilson’s head while he was on the ground. 

Another witness claimed Bonner stomped on Wilson’s head three times while Anderson punched and kicked him once. The witness claimed to have pushed back Anderson, who returned to kick Wilson again.

Bonner faces 10 to 30 years or a life sentence if found guilty on either charge. Both are Class A felonies. She would have to serve at least 85 percent of their sentence.

Anderson’s trial is set to begin Jan. 30 before Judge Joshua Devine. That case was moved to Boone County on a change of venue request.

Two other people involved in the incident will be sentenced in the coming months.

Kaelin Rickey, 27, of Hannibal pled guilty to one count of second-degree assault, a Class D felony, during a Sept. 25 appearance with attorney Jessica Caldera before Judge Jeff Harris in the Boone County Courthouse. Counts of second-degree murder and evidence tampering were dismissed. Harris will sentence Rickey on Feb. 13.

A Boone County jury on Oct. 7 found Thomas Payne of Monroe City guilty of third-degree assault. However, the jury also found Payne was not guilty of second-degree murder. He will be sentenced Dec. 8.