Attorney appointed for woman charged in murder case
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Emporia attorney Don C. Krueger has been appointed defense attorney for DeAnna L. Meece, who was charged on Monday with intentional second-degree murder.
Meece, 24, made her first appearance in Lyon County District Court late Tuesday morning before District Judge Lee Fowler, who appointed Krueger to represent her.
She filed paperwork with the court indicating that she had been unemployed for 2 years and owned nothing.
Meece is accused in the June 17 death of Ricky L. Nurnberg, 26. According to an affidavit filed with the court, Nurnberg died from loss of blood from being stabbed.
The affidavit referred to a cause of death determination from Shawnee County Coroner Erik Mitchell of Topeka, where an autopsy was done on Nurnberg’s body. Two stab wounds were noted.
“Death occurred in a very short amount of time,” the affidavit said.
Both Meece and Nurnberg were charged with battery, domestic violence, within the past year.
Nurnberg was charged in December 2008 and entered a diversion agreement in Emporia Municipal Court. The agreement was to end on March 11, 2010, if requirements were met.
Both were charged with battery, domestic violence, on March 28, 2009.
Nurnberg pleaded no contest to the March charge on June 4, less than 2 weeks before his death.
Meece entered a diversion agreement on the battery charge on May 7.
Meece told Emporia police that a “no contact” order was issued through municipal court to prohibit contact between her and the victim.
“She said she had been told by her diversion supervisor not to go to Nurnberg’s apartment,” the affidavit stated. “She said she came to Nurnberg’s apartment on the evening of Tuesday, June 16, 2009, and had remained until the incident under investigation occurred.”
The affidavit stated that Nurnberg’s roommate witnessed a portion of the dispute that culminated in Nurnberg’s death. He said that both Meece and Nurnberg had been drinking for several hours and that he had not seen either with a weapon.
The witness said he left the apartment after he heard a “thud” and saw Meece kneeling over Nurnberg, who was lying on the floor; blood was coming from Nurnberg’s chest.
The witness returned in a short time with a nurse, who dialed 911 for assistance.
A black-handled steak knife was found near Nurnberg’s head. The blade of the knife was approximately 5.5 inches long, the affidavit stated.
Meece told police she jabbed Nurnberg once with a butter knife they were using to stir their vodka and orange juice drinks.
She said Nurnberg lunged toward her, causing him to stick himself with the knife she was holding.
“Meece said Nurnberg backed away and told her to leave, which she did do,” the affidavit said. “She said Nurnberg was standing upright in the living room when she left.”
Meece said she went to a nearby store, cleaned off some of the blood, called for a ride and was picked up by two people. She later called police and gave them the address of the home to which she had gone.
Meece’s preliminary hearing is scheduled at 9 a.m. on July 17 before District Judge Lee Fowler.
Her bond is set at $250,000.