Double murder trial in Columbia begins Tuesday; 75 potential jurors called

Jury selection in the Columbia double murder trial is scheduled to begin Tuesday morning at the Boone County Courthouse.

Cadilac Derrick, 37, is charged in Boone County with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and two other crimes in connection with the deaths of a woman and her grandmother in November 2022. Derrick is accused of shooting 22-year-old Lea'johna Sanders and 53-year-old Laura Myers.

According to court documents, Derrick and Sanders had a young son, and Sanders called 911 in November 2022 to report that Derrick had abused her. Sanders told the operator that Derrick would not leave her house and that he would kill her and her mother if she did not stay with him. According to the Columbia Police Department's probable cause statement, several gunshots were heard during the 911 call.

939 Eagle News was at the Boone County Courthouse for the preliminary hearing on Monday. Boone County Assistant Prosecutor Risa Perkins and Clayton's defense attorney Joseph Whitener told Boone County District Judge Brouck Jacobs they were ready for trial. 75 potential jurors will be called to the Boone County Courthouse this morning. Prosecutor Perkins tells Judge Jacobs jury selection is expected to take about two hours. Counsel Whitener told the judge in open court that Derrick may or may not testify at the trial, which is expected to last three to four days.