ST. LOUIS - One of two men accused in the highly publicized murder of a former St. Louis University athlete in broad daylight pleaded guilty Friday and was immediately sentenced to life plus 20 years for his actions.
Eighteen-year-old Keith Esters admitted to being the trigger manin the shooting death of Megan Boken of Wheaton, Illinois on August 18, 2012. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, and attempted robbery.
Police and prosecutors said Esters saw Boken talking on her phone while sitting in her car, near the intersection of N. Taylor and Maryland. Esters confronted Boken, who was in town to participate in an alumni volleyball game later in the evening. Esters tried to take Boken's property and then shot her twice, in the chest and neck, before running to a waiting vehicle and fleeing the scene.
The driver of that vehicle, Johnathan Terrell Perkins, was charged with second-degree murder, attempted robbery and armed criminal action.
Megan's father, Paul Boken, said after the sentencing, "We are satisfied that the defendant decided to plead guilty in this case. This does not provide closure, there's nothing that can do that. It does, however, give us the sense that justice was served."
