CAPE MAN PLEADS GUILTY IN CONTRACT MURDER

A Cape Girardeau man accused of hiring an undercover narcotics officer
to kill a former tenant he claimed was stealing from him pleaded
guilty, the Cape Girardeau County prosecutor said Friday.

Ralph John Knoblauch, 61, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit
murder before Circuit Judge William Syler this week, Prosecuting
Attorney Morley Swingle said.

A police informant contacted the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force
last August when Knoblauch allegedly sought out a person to kill
56-year-old Orville Meyer. Knoblauch was arrested after a weeklong
investigation.

The undercover officer originally had asked for $5,000 to murder Meyer
but lowered the price to $1,000 after the informant told him Knoblauch
was recruiting a drug addict to kill the man. The narcotics officer
wanted to make sure his bid was lower, Swingle said.

Knoblauch explained during a meeting with the officer and the
informant at a Cape Girar-deau restaurant that he wanted Meyer dead
because he had stolen a diamond ring and several other items from him,
authorities said. Meyer had earlier said he once worked for Knoblauch,
who had owned several rental properties.

During the meeting at the restaurant, Knoblauch allegedly instructed
the undercover officer that he should blindfold, gag and torture Meyer
with a knife until he told him what happened to the diamond ring. Even
if Meyer explained where the ring was, Knoblauch said the officer
should kill him and let him know that "this is for John Knoblauch,"
Swingle said.

No attempt was made on Meyer's life. After feigning a murder with
Meyer's cooperation, the undercover officer met with Knoblauch at a
restaurant on Aug. 23. He showed Knoblauch a staged photograph of
Meyer lying dead in his home.

After paying the officer $500 to complete an advance payment for the
murder, Knoblauch allegedly offered to buy the officer a steak.
Knoblauch was arrested as he left the restaurant.

Knoblauch had been scheduled for a jury trial in September, but he
agreed to a plea bargain with the prosecutor. In return for pleading
guilty, Swingle said he would recommend a sentence of 10 years in
prison for the class B felony, which is punishable by five to 15 years.

The judge is scheduled to sentence Knoblauch on Aug.
20.

The case demonstrates the versatility of the Drug Task Force, Swingle
said.

"When a tip like this comes in and you need a scruffy-looking
undercover officer to pose as a criminal, the Task Force can supply
local law enforcement with both the undercover officer and the
high-tech surveillance equipment on short notice," he said.