Dyer Pleads Not Guilty To Murder Charge

A Crawford County woman accused of murdering the father of her child has pleaded not guilty.

Beau Dyer, 20, Steelville, appeared before Judge Megan Seay on Oct. 4 where she entered not guilty pleas to first-degree murder, armed criminal action and tampering with physical evidence.

A trial setting has been scheduled for Jan. 3, 2022. She is being held without bond.

Dyer’s boyfriend — Eric Ray, 50, Steelville, — also has been charged for having a role in the murder. Ray has pleaded not guilty to tampering with evidence and abandoning a corpse.

Investigators allege that Dyer shot Albert Barton, 20, and left him for dead in a wooded area near Steelville back in June.

Barton was first reported missing June 8 and his body was discovered on McCormick Road on June 30.

He had a fatal gunshot wound to the chest.

Dyer and Ray were identified as persons of interest when authorities began a search for Barton.

Authorities spent the next few weeks searching for Dyer and Ray, who were finally tracked down.

Dyer and Barton were allegedly discussing their child.

Dyer told authorities they went for a drive and traveled down a gravel road so she could relieve herself.

She said Barton grabbed her by the hair and began striking her in the head. 

Dyer told authorities she pushed Barton off, ran into a wooded area and then shot him.

Asked why she didn’t contact 911, she claimed she was “too scared.” 

Dyer allegedly admitted to a factory reset of her phone to destroy evidence of a call to Ray.