A Bonne Terre man is accused of killing a Cape Girardeau man whose body was found in septic tank last week. Melvin Scherrer is charged with first degree murder and four other charges in the death of Samuel Francis.
According to the police probable cause statement, Melvin Scherrer allegedly beat Samuel Francis with a baseball bat inside Scherrer’s residence, taped his hands behind his back, and wrapped his head in tape. Scherrer then took Francis out of the house while Francis was still alive.
This all allegedly happened on Dec. 18 of last year, and Francis was missing until last Thursday, when his body was discovered in a septic tank in St. Francois County.
Before his disappearance, Samuel Francis called his father and told him if he ended up dead, Melvin Scherrer was responsible.
The probable cause statement says witnesses and electronic information placed Francis at Sherrer’s house on that same day he went missing.