Delay sought in filing of slay charges

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, February 21, 2001

Prosecutors are asking for an extension until Friday to file charges against the man accused of killing two people in a rural Austin home last Thursday.

Wednesday, February 21, 2001

Prosecutors are asking for an extension until Friday to file charges against the man accused of killing two people in a rural Austin home last Thursday.

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Stacey Benjamin Cotter, 23, was arrested early Saturday morning at a treatment facility in Minneapolis in connection with the stabbing death of Richard Cotter, 73, and his friend, Mary McIntyre, 68, of Baltimore, Md.

Stacey Cotter is Richard Cotter’s adopted son.

The killings occurred at Cotter’s home and a fire was set to cover the crimes, authorities have said.

An employee of the Mower County attorney’s office confirmed this morning that the request for a delay was filed this morning. The request would require that he appear in court by noon Friday.

Sheriff Barry Simonson said investigators have not identified a motive and that the suspect has been uncooperative in answering questions. While Richard Cotter was stabbed to death, a cause of death for McIntyre has not been determined.

In accordance with law, Cotter must be arraigned 36 hours after being arrested, which occurred at 2:30 a.m. Saturday. The weekend and Monday’s holiday, however, are taken into account with the deadline timeframe. The extension seeks to gain additional time for attorneys to review paper work.

Meanwhile, investigators are continuing their investigation, which is consisting of viewing videotapes of convenience store, gas station and restaurant security cameras in a search for additional information on the whereabouts of Stacey Cotter prior to and following the slayings.

During the hours after the crime and before the arrest, investigators recovered Cotter’s vehicle and "found evidence," including clothing, according to Mower County Sheriff Barry Simonson.

Stacey Cotter is being held in the Mower County Jail awaiting legal processing.