Video by Marshall White

SAVANNAH, Mo. — A less-than-dapper defendant accused of participating in the Andrew County murder of Antonio Jose Maravilla-Vargas, 23, returned to court Tuesday.

An Andrew County deputy sheriff escorted Enrique “Rico” Hernandez, 28, handcuffed and shackled with leg irons into court.

Quietly watching the court proceedings, Eugenio Maravilla-Vargas, the victim’s father, sat with family and friends who translated the proceedings. The group met with prosecutors following the hearing.

Mr. Hernandez, his blond and reddish streaked brown hair looking limp and bedraggled, mumbled when Associate Circuit Judge Michael Ordnung questioned him about whether he had an attorney. He didn’t. Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd told the judge that Mr. Hernandez hadn’t secured his own attorney.

Court records revealed that Antonio Onate allegedly paid Mr. Hernandez $2,000 to have Mr. Maravilla-Vargas killed.

The judge remanded Mr. Hernandez to jail and set another court hearing for June 9.

Two others charged in the murder are Orlando “Sleepy” Cruz, 25, and Jose Quintero Jr., 17. Mr. Cruz will return to court next Tuesday.

Mr. Quintero returns to court on June 16. The court scheduled Mr. Onate to return on June 23.

Marshall White can be reached at marshall@npgco.com.