Attorney General's News Release

August 27, 2012

Washington County man pleads guilty to murder

Jefferson City, Mo. -- Attorney General Chris Koster said today that Jacob Feldman of Washington County has pleaded guilty to murder in the first degree in the shooting death of Jerry Litherland of Cadet, Missouri. Feldman was sentenced to life in prison without parole by Ste. Genevieve County Judge Kenneth W. Pratte. The case was heard in Ste. Genevieve on a change of venue from Washington County.

Feldman shot Jerry Litherland multiple times with an SKS assault rifle as Litherland entered his own residence. Feldman confessed to the shooting and led police to the weapon, which he had buried under some brush in a rural location.

Litherland’s wife, Nanette, allegedly conspired with Feldman and two other co-defendants, Thomas and Gwen Buhler, to have Litherland murdered for insurance money. The cases of the co-defendants are pending.

The Attorney General’s Office was named Special Prosecutor in this case.