Comment
Rate
Share
Two charged in Steak 'n Shake murders in Green Park
By Patrick M. O'Connell, Carolyn Tuft and Terry Hillig/St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The killings of two Steak 'n Shake workers was an inside job, authorities said Thursday after charging a worker fired from the eatery in Green Park six months ago and a brother who had subsequently quit.
Anthony D. Akins, 20, and Oundr'e T. Akins, 19, both of Cahokia, confessed to the crime, according to court documents. Their distraught father told reporters he cannot believe it.
Robbery was the motive in the crime, which netted less than $200, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch said.
"There's no amount that would make any difference, so whether $200 or $2 billion, it's still a murder," McCulloch said.
Investigators offered no explanation for the violence. They said basic investigative techniques cracked the case.
The suspects were held without bond, each charged with two counts of first-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action and one count of first-degree robbery. McCulloch did not say whether he would seek death sentences.
A bread delivery man found the bodies of waitress Tammy L. Cantrell, 44, and cook Mark L. Gerstner, 24, in the restaurant at 5828 Lindbergh Boulevard about 4:30 a.m. Monday. Both had been shot, but police would not describe where or how many times, or whether the victims had fought back.
The business, normally open 24 hours, had been closed for insect extermination; and the victims were preparing it for reopening later that morning.
McCulloch said the brothers used a swipe card key from one of the victims to access the cash register. He would not say whether that was before or after the killings.
Tony Akins Sr., 41, father of the suspects, said he has doubts that his sons confessed or were involved, and that he won't know what to think until he talks with them.
"If they done this ... I just don't understand why, because they had everything going for themselves," Akins Sr. said.
He said he thought his sons were home when the crimes occurred and emphasized that neither had acted suspiciously in the previous days.
Anthony Akins was fired from Steak 'n Shake about six months ago, and Oundr'e T. Akins quit shortly thereafter because he was upset at being passed over for promotions, their father said. Both had been cooks.
Tony Akins Sr.'s brother, Ronald Akins, the suspects' uncle, works at the same restaurant and attended Cantrell's wake Wednesday. Officials said the uncle is not a suspect in the crime.
The suspects and their father knew Cantrell but not Gerstner, Tony Akins Sr. said.
St. Louis County police Lt. Tom Larkin said investigators obtained valuable leads at the scene and from witnesses in the area of the restaurant near the time of the killings. Detectives cross-checked information against employee records and soon focused on Anthony Akins, who was questioned and arrested Wednesday night.
Larkin would not describe what linked Anthony Akins to the crime.
Said McCulloch, "The entire case broke with the police work that was done." Officials said a $50,000 reward posted Wednesday by Steak 'n Shake played no role.
Oundr'e Akins was arrested about 6:30 a.m. Thursday when an Illinois State Police tactical response team swarmed his parents' home in the 1600 block of Armand Drive in Cahokia. His father, mother and three of his five brothers were there.
Oundr'e Akins was held in the St. Clair County Jail in Belleville pending extradition to Missouri.
County police Major Ted Hylla said detectives "strongly believe" robbery was the motive. Investigators indicated they do not think the killings were retaliation for Anthony Akins' firing.
Hylla said he is aware the public wants to know the specifics of what happened inside the restaurant, and "they will, in time."
Tony Akins Sr. said his sons had it good; they didn't pay room or board, but were allowed to live with him as long as they kept jobs.
He said that days after being fired, Anthony Akins got a job he liked at American Steel Foundries in Granite City, making more than $700 a week, but he was laid off Nov. 7. The father said Oundr'e was looking for work.
"I did everything in my power to raise my boys right," Tony Akins Sr. said. "It's really sad. All the people over there (at the restaurant) were nice to me and my boys. I don't know how to explain it. I believe in my heart there's got to be someone else involved in this. I don't see them pulling the trigger."
The father said he still thinks his sons are innocent. "Look at their records. They don't have any criminal records," he said.
A check of courts in St. Clair County, where they live, showed that both had a few traffic and misdemeanor charges. Oundr'e Akins is awaiting trial on a misdemeanor charge of resisting a police officer Aug. 7 in Centreville.
Officials at Steak 'n Shake's headquarters in Indianapolis said the company provided money to help the the victims' families.
"Nothing can bring back Mark and Tammy, but this horrible event has shown what wonderful associates we have at Steak 'n Shake," Chairman and CEO Sardar Biglari said. "We have come together in this difficult time to help each other."
The Green Park store remained closed Thursday.
Robert Cantrell, who lives in unincorporated Jefferson County, was elated at news that two men were jailed for killing his daughter.
"I am so happy," he said. "I hope it is the right ones."
Cantrell said he thought all along it had to be an inside job by disgruntled former employees. He figured that only someone familiar with the restaurant would have known that the front door would be unlocked, even though a sign posted on the door stated the business was closed.
Through tears, Robert Cantrell added: "I'm happy that they caught someone."
J.B. Forbes of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
To see more of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.stltoday.com.
Copyright © 2008, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
Subscribe To Lake AlertsAnthony D. Akins, 20, and Oundr'e T. Akins, 19, both of Cahokia, confessed to the crime, according to court documents. Their distraught father told reporters he cannot believe it.
Robbery was the motive in the crime, which netted less than $200, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch said.
"There's no amount that would make any difference, so whether $200 or $2 billion, it's still a murder," McCulloch said.
Investigators offered no explanation for the violence. They said basic investigative techniques cracked the case.
The suspects were held without bond, each charged with two counts of first-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action and one count of first-degree robbery. McCulloch did not say whether he would seek death sentences.
A bread delivery man found the bodies of waitress Tammy L. Cantrell, 44, and cook Mark L. Gerstner, 24, in the restaurant at 5828 Lindbergh Boulevard about 4:30 a.m. Monday. Both had been shot, but police would not describe where or how many times, or whether the victims had fought back.
The business, normally open 24 hours, had been closed for insect extermination; and the victims were preparing it for reopening later that morning.
McCulloch said the brothers used a swipe card key from one of the victims to access the cash register. He would not say whether that was before or after the killings.
Tony Akins Sr., 41, father of the suspects, said he has doubts that his sons confessed or were involved, and that he won't know what to think until he talks with them.
"If they done this ... I just don't understand why, because they had everything going for themselves," Akins Sr. said.
He said he thought his sons were home when the crimes occurred and emphasized that neither had acted suspiciously in the previous days.
Anthony Akins was fired from Steak 'n Shake about six months ago, and Oundr'e T. Akins quit shortly thereafter because he was upset at being passed over for promotions, their father said. Both had been cooks.
Tony Akins Sr.'s brother, Ronald Akins, the suspects' uncle, works at the same restaurant and attended Cantrell's wake Wednesday. Officials said the uncle is not a suspect in the crime.
The suspects and their father knew Cantrell but not Gerstner, Tony Akins Sr. said.
St. Louis County police Lt. Tom Larkin said investigators obtained valuable leads at the scene and from witnesses in the area of the restaurant near the time of the killings. Detectives cross-checked information against employee records and soon focused on Anthony Akins, who was questioned and arrested Wednesday night.
Larkin would not describe what linked Anthony Akins to the crime.
Said McCulloch, "The entire case broke with the police work that was done." Officials said a $50,000 reward posted Wednesday by Steak 'n Shake played no role.
Oundr'e Akins was arrested about 6:30 a.m. Thursday when an Illinois State Police tactical response team swarmed his parents' home in the 1600 block of Armand Drive in Cahokia. His father, mother and three of his five brothers were there.
Oundr'e Akins was held in the St. Clair County Jail in Belleville pending extradition to Missouri.
County police Major Ted Hylla said detectives "strongly believe" robbery was the motive. Investigators indicated they do not think the killings were retaliation for Anthony Akins' firing.
Hylla said he is aware the public wants to know the specifics of what happened inside the restaurant, and "they will, in time."
Tony Akins Sr. said his sons had it good; they didn't pay room or board, but were allowed to live with him as long as they kept jobs.
He said that days after being fired, Anthony Akins got a job he liked at American Steel Foundries in Granite City, making more than $700 a week, but he was laid off Nov. 7. The father said Oundr'e was looking for work.
"I did everything in my power to raise my boys right," Tony Akins Sr. said. "It's really sad. All the people over there (at the restaurant) were nice to me and my boys. I don't know how to explain it. I believe in my heart there's got to be someone else involved in this. I don't see them pulling the trigger."
The father said he still thinks his sons are innocent. "Look at their records. They don't have any criminal records," he said.
A check of courts in St. Clair County, where they live, showed that both had a few traffic and misdemeanor charges. Oundr'e Akins is awaiting trial on a misdemeanor charge of resisting a police officer Aug. 7 in Centreville.
Officials at Steak 'n Shake's headquarters in Indianapolis said the company provided money to help the the victims' families.
"Nothing can bring back Mark and Tammy, but this horrible event has shown what wonderful associates we have at Steak 'n Shake," Chairman and CEO Sardar Biglari said. "We have come together in this difficult time to help each other."
The Green Park store remained closed Thursday.
Robert Cantrell, who lives in unincorporated Jefferson County, was elated at news that two men were jailed for killing his daughter.
"I am so happy," he said. "I hope it is the right ones."
Cantrell said he thought all along it had to be an inside job by disgruntled former employees. He figured that only someone familiar with the restaurant would have known that the front door would be unlocked, even though a sign posted on the door stated the business was closed.
Through tears, Robert Cantrell added: "I'm happy that they caught someone."
J.B. Forbes of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
To see more of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.stltoday.com.
Copyright © 2008, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
Share this Article
 |
 |
|
| Missouri gets disaster declaration from September flooding due to Ike | NASCAR has become too nice for the racing old-timers |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
Submit a Comment
We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.
