Last August we outlined a murder of a young female college student, Megan Boken, in St. Louis, Missouri. She was sitting in her parked car when a black male, Keith V. Esters, 18, approached her, shot her twice, then jumped into a car driven by another black male and took off.
It was broad daylight, 2:15pm on a Saturday afternoon – on a busy public street at St. Louis University.
Three general red flags were noted:   •At the time of the shooting the media refused to publish the race of the attackers.   •In addition the motive was continually declared as “robbery” despite the fact that nothing was taken from the victim.   •St Louis has a long history of being unwilling to identify black on white crimes as racially driven.
Here’s the Update: ST. LOUIS • One of two teenagers charged in the Central West End murder of former St. Louis University volleyball player Megan Boken pleaded guilty this afternoon and was sentenced to 50 years in prison.
The main charge against Keith V. Esters, 19, of Bel-Ridge, was reduced to second-degree murder from first-degree. He also pleaded guilty of attempted robbery and two counts of armed criminal action.

Judge Steven Ohmer ordered him to prison for life, which is calculated in Missouri at 30 years, plus a consecutive 20-year term. Esters must serve 85 percent of the 30-year sentence before he is eligible for parole. He then must begin the 20-year sentence.
Prosecutors said Esters killed Boken, 23, while trying to take her cellphone on Aug. 18, 2012. In today’s hearing, Esters said he was not particularly after her phone but just wanted to rob her.
Boken, of Wheaton, Ill., was a graduate of St. Louis University and in town for job interviews and to play in a reunion game with her college volleyball team.
She was fatally shot as she struggled with a gunman from inside her parked car in a daylight holdup at Maryland and Taylor avenues. She was shot once in the neck and once in the chest.
Authorities said Esters was the gunman and that his getaway driver, waiting nearby, was his cousin, Johnathan Terrell Perkins, who was also 18 when the killing happened.
Perkins, 19, of unincorporated St. Louis County near Overland, is awaiting trial.  (read more)