Lawrenceburg Now

Friday, August 6, 2010

Husband And Associate Indicted In 1992 Rigling Murder

   Although two individuals have since been imprisoned in connection with the 1992 murder of Joann Rigling, officials reported Friday that Rigling’s husband and an associate have now been indicted, as well, in what they indicate was a murder-for-hire.

   Joann Rigling, age 57, was working inside Phil’s One Stop, a market she owned with husband Phillip, on the morning of June 19, 1992 when the store was robbed, and she shot and killed. The thieves took the store’s cash register and fled from the scene.

   Officials alleged that Lawrenceburg residents Jimmy Dale Hogan and Tammy Smith were the pair who committed the crimes. While standing trial for a second time, Hogan was convicted in 1997 on charges of first degree murder and especially aggravated robbery for which he received a life sentence. He has since been granted a new trial on the murder count, but continues to serve his sentence on the especially aggravated robbery conviction. Tammy Smith was also convicted in connection with the crimes, but has since been released from prison.

   Authorities with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation report that it was while authorities were preparing for Hogan’s new trial that new evidence in the case came to light. The new evidence indicated that Phillip Rigling had approached several different individuals about killing his wife. Some indicate that he had offered his associate, Curtis Staggs, age 40, now of Fredericktown, Missouri, $50,000 to kill wife Joann. TBI officials report, “As a partial payment, money was taken from inside the market.”

   Investigators presented the new evidence to a Lawrence County Grand Jury and indictments were returned against both Rigling and Staggs.

   Staggs was taken into custody last week by officials with the Madison County, Missouri Sheriff’s Department and Missouri State Police. He was booked under one count of first degree murder, one count of felony murder, and one count of aggravated robbery.

   On Friday, Rigling, age 74, of 341 Jackson Avenue, Lawrenceburg, was arrested by authorities with TBI and booked through the Lawrence County Jail on charges of criminal responsibility to wit first degree murder, felony murder, and aggravated robbery.

   Staggs currently awaits extradition to Lawrence County.

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