Jury Delivers Swift Guilty Verdict in Domestic Assault, Kidnapping
September 28, 2023

Circuit Attorney’s Office Clears Another Violent Case


ST. LOUIS, MO (September 28, 2023) — Anthony Wren, 69, was found guilty of First-Degree Domestic Assault, Armed Criminal Action and Kidnapping in a near-fatal attack on his girlfriend on January 18, 2023. At the time of the attack, Wren was on parole for a 1980 murder.


The assault took place at the home of Wren’s girlfriend in the 3600 block of Natural Bridge. Wren became agitated and the woman asked him to leave, but he refused. When she tried to leave, Wren shot her once in the head.


Wren refused to call for help until the victim, who was bleeding profusely, promised to say that she had shot herself. He then placed a 911 call and fled. The victim was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Police investigators who interviewed the victim in the hospital found that the

entrance and exit wounds she had sustained were not consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot. When confronted with the facts, the victim related to police that the defendant was responsible for the shooting. Although she has largely recovered from the gunshot wound, the victim

sustained nerve damage to her face and partial loss of vision in one eye.


The case was prosecuted by Assistant Circuit Attorney Adrine Krikorian. Krikorian was aided in the prosecution by Chief Trial Attorney Marvin Teer, Domestic Violence Team Leader Jeremy Crowley, Victim Services Advocate Jennifer Stiff, and Investigators Linda Mopkins, Lee Stokes, and Michael Graves.


The jury delivered its verdict on Wednesday, Sept. 27, after deliberating for less than three hours. The case was heard in Division 10 of the 22nd Circuit Court before Judge Rex M. Burlison. Wren will be sentenced on October 10.


“This guilty verdict was the result of outstanding teamwork and is demonstrative of our commitment to vigorously prosecute and clear the backlog of violent crimes in the City of St. Louis,” said Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore. “It is gratifying that we were able to get justice for the victim of this heinous assault.”



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For Immediate Release

For more information contact:

Amber Raub

Public Information Officer

St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office

rauba@stlouiscao.org

314-589-6233 (office)

314-312-9912 (cell)

More News

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ST. LOUIS, MO (May 23, 2025) — James Cody Jr., 30, was found guilty of second-degree murder and armed criminal action by a jury on Friday for the March 8, 2022, murder of Michael Kelly, 72, in the 3900 block of North 25th Street in the City’s Hyde Park neighborhood. The case stemmed from an ongoing landlord-tenant dispute. Mr. Kelly, the victim, was the landlord of a residence on the 4000 block of North 22nd Street, where Cody’s girlfriend, Deseray Rabb, had stopped paying rent. Despite a court-ordered eviction, Rabb refused to vacate the property. As the legal process unfolded, Cody, who was not listed on the lease but was the father of Rabb’s three children, began threatening Mr. Kelly. On the morning of the murder, surveillance footage captured Cody following Mr. Kelly as he drove to his office. Once parked, Cody was seen approaching the vehicle with a rifle and fatally shooting him. A Nissan Sentra rented under Rabb’s name was spotted in the area and later recovered with ballistic damage concealed by duct tape. Cody was arrested days later at a St. Louis County motel, where he and Rabb were staying with their children. The jury recommended a sentence of 25 years for second-degree murder and 10 years for armed criminal action. Cody’s sentencing is scheduled for June 27, 2025. Deseray Rabb, Cody’s girlfriend and co-defendant, was charged with accessory to first-degree murder and accessory to armed criminal action. She was acquitted by the jury. Tanja Engelhardt, Homicide Unit Chief, and Assistant Circuit Attorneys Timothy Wright and Emily Price prosecuted the case. “This was a ruthless, targeted killing over a lawful eviction. This senseless act of violence has destroyed multiple families. We will relentlessly prosecute those who choose to settle disputes with gun violence to the fullest extent of the law,” said St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore. Cody’s case number is 2322-CR01089.
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