Defendant in double fatality requests bail hearing; The family of the victims says: “We will be there in court. We will ask the judge not to reduce his bond” | KSNF/KODE

Husband and wife, Rhonda and Terry Copple, were killed in an accident on January 3, 2021.

JOPLIN, Mo. “Nearly a year has passed since the fatal double accident that claimed the lives of husband and wife Rhonda and Terry Copple in the Kelsey Norman neighborhood of Joplin.

They had just left an afternoon lunch with their adult children on January 3, 2021, and the couple were driving home when they were boned at high speed by Rita Glasgow, 31, of Joplin.

Rhonda, 48, died at the scene. And Terry, 55, died shortly afterwards in hospital.

The Joplin Police investigation found that Glasgow was impaired executing the westbound stop sign at E 28th and S Connecticut. Driving a reported stolen van. And had outstanding warrants for his arrest on various charges.

Glasgow is charged in Jasper County Court:

• Felony DWI, deaths of two or more people
• Felony Tampering with a motor vehicle
• Criminal possession of a controlled substance

On Monday, December 6, 9:00 a.m. at a pre-trial conference, the Glasgow public defender requested that bail be posted.

This is the third time the defendant has requested a bail hearing. “We’ve been there every time“, tells us the big sister of Rhonda Copple, Brenda Bowers.

“And we’ll be there in court on Monday. We will ask the judge not to reduce his bond.”

Glasgow has been in custody since the double fatality.

“Our beloved Rhonda and Terry Copple were killed by Rita Glasgow. Rita Glasgow had jumped bail from previous charges and had warrants for her arrest at the time she caused the deaths of Rhonda and Terry. We, the family of Rhonda and Terry Copple, believe that two deaths are enough. We will plead for the court to deny the release on bail of this defendant. It is not safe to release her before the trial.”

— Family statement from Rhonda and Terry Copple

The trial is scheduled for May 2022.

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