Laddonia Teen Charged With First-Degree Murder Makes Initial Court Appearance

A Laddonia teen charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of a Vandalia man made his initial court appearance on Wednesday, December 5, 2023.

According to Audrain County Prosecutor Jacob Shellabarger, 18-year-old Christopher Brickey appeared via WebEx videoconferencing from the Audrain County Jail.

Judge Linda Hamlett read the charges to him, and Brickey asked to speak with an attorney prior to being heard on his bond.

At this time, Brickey remains in custody, and is being held with no bond.

Brickey asked for time to hire an attorney, so the bond and attorney counsel status hearing are scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday) morning at 11am at the Audrain County Courthouse.

Brickey and an unnamed 17-year-old co-defendant are accused of planning the murder of 23-year-old Matthew Stewart of Vandalia.

Prosecutors said Brickey and the juvenile drove Stewart to the murder scene along Audrain County Road 556 in rural Vandalia and fired multiple shots at Stewart and then drove away.