Two Columbia murder suspects plead guilty; state seeks 18-year sentence
Madison Stuerman
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Two men accused of a 2022 murder in Columbia pleaded guilty Wednesday afternoon, just days before going to trial.
They’ll likely serve nearly two decades in prison per the terms of the plea agreement.
Oscar Ashford and Samarion Robins entered guilty pleas to second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon. Boone County Prosecutor Roger Johnson said the state agreed to 18 years in prison for each man. Sentencing is set for Monday.
The two were charged in the death of 15-year-old Aubry Doxley in 2022 on McKee Street.
As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors dropped one count of armed criminal action.
Ashford and Robins were set for a joint trial to start on Monday. A pretrial conference was held hours before the guilty pleas were entered.
At the pretrial conference, prosecutors revealed cell phone data that they said showed Robins and Ashford in the area of McKee Street when the shooting happened that left Doxley dead and two others hurt.
One of those hurt included Tavan Williams-Patrick. Court documents placed him in the back seat of the car during the shooting. Charges were dropped against Williams-Patrick in Aug.
Prosecutors said cell phone data also placed Ashford and Robins at an area hospital following the shooting, when Williams-Patrick was dropped off.
A final disposition and sentencing hearing for Robins and Ashford is set for Monday afternoon.
Charges are still active against another defendant, Daniel Ayers. Court documents say he allegedly told Doxley’s cousin, Coriana Simmons, what had happened. Ayers claimed Ashford was driving the car while Robins fired shots out of the passenger window. Ayers told Smith he did not fire any shots.
However, the state believes the shooting was retaliation for a shooting Ayers was involved in days prior, along with conflicts dating back to 2020.
Ayers is set to go to trial in April for his charges of second-degree muder, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action.