A Platte County grand jury has indicted a woman for murder in the June 28 killing of a man near Farley. The grand jury also indicted a man for tampering with evidence and stealing a car in connection with the case.
McKayla Cheyenne Archambeau, 22, was charged with second degree murder, armed criminal action, tampering with evidence, and tampering with a motor vehicle. Cordero T. Cervantes, 32, was charged with tampering with evidence and tampering with a motor vehicle.
Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said the grand jury handed down the indictments on Oct. 27 after an intensive investigation by the Platte County Sheriff’s Office.
Taylor Hawkins was found shot to death at a home on Oberdiek Lane near Farley on June 28. Shortly after his killing, the Platte County Sheriff’s Department named Archambeau and Cervantes as persons of interest in the killing, and asked for the public’s help in locating them.
Archambeau and Cervantes were named shortly after the homicide of Hawkins, 31, who was found shot to death Tuesday, June 28 at his home on Oberdiek Lane, off Highway 45 near Farley.
Funeral services for Hawkins were held July 9 at First Baptist Church in Platte City.
Archambeau and Cervantes were arrested in another state on July 7 and returned to Platte County on other pending charges.
The indictments allege Archambeau shot Hawkins. The indictments allege that Archambeau and Cervantes wiped down a vehicle belonging to Taylor Hawkins and took a 2012 Ford Focus without the owner’s consent.
Judge Thomas Finhcham ordered Archambeau be held in lieu of a $250,000 cash bond and Cervantes be held on a $25,000 cash bond.
If convicted, Archambeau faces up to life in prison. Cervantes faces up to seven years in prison for tampering with a motor vehicle and four years in prison for tampering with evidence.
The cases are being investigated by the Platte County Sheriff’s Department. They are being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys Blake Sherer and Collin VanOstran.
The charges against Archambeau and Cervantes are merely allegations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.