Attorney General Hanaway Secures Guilty Verdict in 2004 Jefferson County Cold Case Murder
Today, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced that a Jefferson County jury has found Alice Weiss guilty of murder in the second degree for the 2004 killing of James Summers in Jefferson County. The conviction follows a renewed investigation and prosecution led by the Attorney General’s Office Cold Case-SAKI Section.
“A guilty verdict delivers long‑overdue justice for the family of James Summers and accountability for a crime that went unanswered for far too long,” said General Hanaway. “I am deeply proud of the work of our Cold Case team. Missouri families deserve justice and closure, and our office will never stop fighting for them.”
On September 27, 2004, Weiss shot her boyfriend, James Summers, outside their home, once in the back and again in the face after he fell to the ground. Evidence showed that Weiss attempted to conceal the crime before calling 911 to report that she had “found” Summers deceased. Although Weiss was immediately identified as the primary suspect, she was not charged at the time.
In 2021, the Attorney General’s Office was appointed conflict prosecutor. The Cold Case-SAKI Section, along with investigators from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, conducted a full review of the investigation. This renewed focus resulted in Weiss being charged with second degree murder in August of 2021. The charge was brought to trial last summer and resulted in a hung jury.
Undeterred, the Attorney General’s Office undertook a comprehensive assessment of the evidence and prepared the matter for retrial. On September 8, 2026, the second trial began before the Honorable Brenda Stacey in Hillsboro. On Friday, the jury returned a guilty verdict for murder in the second degree. The State requested a 22‑year sentence, reflecting the 22 years since the murder, and the jury returned that recommendation.
“This case shows the importance of never giving up,” said Jefferson County Sheriff Dave Marshak. “We appreciate the Attorney General’s Office for revisiting this investigation and working closely with our deputies to ensure James Summers finally receives justice.”
“This case presented significant obstacles that come with a decades‑old investigation,” said Cold Case‑SAKI Section Chief Counsel Kevin Zoellner. “I’m proud of how Assistant Attorney General Paige Wheeler, along with Investigators Heather Sabin and Van Godsey, navigated those challenges with careful preparation, disciplined work and an unwavering commitment to the facts.”
Weiss’ bond has been revoked, and she is being held without bond. The Court will sentence Weiss on November 6, 2026, at 11 a.m.
The Cold Case-SAKI Section provides assistance to law‑enforcement agencies statewide in investigating and prosecuting unsolved violent crimes, bringing renewed attention, modern forensic resources, and dedicated expertise to cases that have gone unresolved.
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