Man Convicted in 30-Year-Old Homicide Case

A man will be sentenced Oct. 9 for the murder of an elderly eastern Missouri woman nearly 30 years ago.

Fifty-two-year-old Brian McBenge was convicted Tuesday of first-degree murder in the killing of 84-year-old Eleonora Knoernschild at her home in St. Charles in November 1984. He will be sentenced Oct. 9.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Knoernschild was strangled and beaten. McBenge was connected to the death by DNA evidence and fingerprints at the scene.

His brother, Cecil McBenge, is scheduled to be tried in the case next month.

Defense attorney Scott Rosenblum said he planned to appeal. He argued the DNA was contaminated by police.

Prosecutor Philip Groenweghe said the DNA matched one in 741,000 people, and that Brian McBenge knew Knoernschild kept money hidden in her home.