November 21, 2009
What's Inside:
Charges filed in 2008 killing
Weapon traced to man now serving life sentence in Ohio
Weapon traced to man now serving life sentence in Ohio
Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd announces charges against John M. Hughes and Dana K. Tutor Friday afternoon at a press conference at the Platte County Courthouse. Mr. Hughes and Ms. Tutor are accused of luring Valentin Kirilchuk into a restroom, where he was robbed and killed on Sept. 8, 2008.
PLATTE CITY, Mo. — A 13-month investigation into the murder of a truck driver stopped at an Interstate 29 rest area has ended, with charges filed against two people from Mississippi.
Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd charged John M. Hughes, 33, and Dana K. Tutor, 34, in the shooting death of Valentin G. Kirilchuk, a truck driver from Springfield, Mo. Mr. Kirilchuk, 39, died of an apparent gunshot wound to the head on Sept. 8, 2008. A passer-by found his body in a men’s lavatory at the rest area near Dearborn, Mo.
Mr. Hughes is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree robbery and armed criminal action for allegedly shooting Mr. Kirilchuk. He is in an Ohio prison, serving a life sentence for the August 2008 knife-stabbing murder and robbery of David Durben in Zanesville, Ohio. The robbery involved the theft of weapons, including a Hi-Point 9 mm pistol. Mr. Zahnd alleges Mr. Hughes used the pistol in the murder of Mr. Kirilchuk.
Mr. Zahnd said Mr. Hughes was stopped by the Nebraska State Patrol for allegedly driving while intoxicated in York County that September. The state of Ohio had a warrant out for Mr. Hughes’ arrest. A search of Mr. Hughes’ vehicle uncovered the pistol, Mr. Zahnd said.
In the time since, Ohio tried Mr. Hughes and convicted him for the stabbing death of Mr. Durben. Subsequent testing this year by the Missouri State Highway Patrol revealed a DNA mixture consistent with Mr. Kirilchuk’s DNA on an area of the pistol, officials said.
Ms. Tutor is charged with second-degree murder and second-degree robbery for her alleged role in the crime. She is serving a sentence in Mississippi for uttering a forgery, Mr. Zahnd said.
Court records revealed that at about 7 p.m. that Sept. 8, Mr. Kirilchuk was sitting in his semi in the rest area when Ms. Tutor talked to him through a side window, saying she needed $100. The trucker followed the woman into the rest area’s main building.
Mr. Hughes was pretending to use a pay phone, court records stated. After the victim passed, Mr. Hughes got behind him, and at gunpoint forced him into the nearby restroom. Once inside, Mr. Hughes shot the victim in the head at close range. Mr. Hughes proceeded to rob Mr. Kirilchuk, taking a wallet with $200 and a cell phone. The couple left in Ms. Tutor’s Trailblazer.
Highway Patrol Sgt. Scott Nace filed a probable cause statement, stating that Mr. Hughes confessed to the murder. The state has begun extradition proceedings to get Mr. Hughes, who is in Ohio, and Ms. Tutor, who is in Mississippi.
Mr. Zahnd has had discussions with the victim’s family and will personally prosecute the case. No decision has been reached about whether the death penalty would be sought.
Marshall White can be reached at marshall@npgco.com.
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it is sad that the promise of sex for hire caused this mans demise. we should be more vigulent in our day to day actions. sometimes we are lonely and just need a freind. it is a shame that some pay for sex to begin with. we that dont are so lucky to have a special someone to love and be faitful with. i have heard it is hard being a truck driver with family , being gone so much of the time. we need to rid the planet of skum like this that would kill for money and have no conscience about it. may the truck driver rest in peace.
You must have read a different article than I did. I didn’t see anything about “sex for hire”.
It's inferred. Why else would a woman walk up to a man at a truck stop and say, "I need $100"?
I’ve had both men and women walk up to me with a hard luck story of why they needed money in lots of different settings. I didn’t have sex with any of them.
If he planned to have sex with her why wouldn’t he do it in his truck rather than walking into a well lighted building?
I agree. Don't try to tarnish a VICTIM'S image by implying he was hiring her for sex.
I've been approached in the Walmart parking lot numerous times by people asking for money.
well, you guy's are both mixed up. if the truck driver was going to give her $100.00 he would have given it to her at the truck would he not? he followed her because she told him to ,so her friend could kill him for the money. he couldn't do it in his truck, it would have be seen by passer byers. are you two really that dense or do you have more feeling for the woman then the truck driver.what article did the two of you read that you didn't pic up on that? i am not nor would i ever tarnish a deceased individual in any way.we are all human and I'm sure the both of you have also made mistakes.it is my opinion that he was going to pay for sex. i cant imagine any one following anyone they did not know if it wasn't for sex. have the two of you ever heard of lot lizards? case closed.
This comment was removed by the site staff.
dalearch October 11, 2009 at 10:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)It could have just as well been that she walked up to his truck, told him she needed $100 to get her kids somewhere to be with their father, and took him inside to show the kids to him.
You have no idea what it was.
what the heck are you rambling about? did you read the part that after walking to the restroom the boyfriend killed him? did she direct him to her boyfriend so he could kill him? where the heck did kids come from, they didn't travel with children. talk about 1st grade spelling. you cant even comprehend the article you supposedly read.i am saying she directed him to the rest room so she didn't have to have sex in his truck and her boyfriend could kill him. is it really that hard to understand her motive? after all these years of knowing you , you have gone wacko dud. you keep trying to word this so we don't downgrade the truck driver. that is commendable of you but you are making up stuff that doesnt make sense to anyone.sorry for getting your old man attitude fired up, go back to bed and sleep 8 hrs or more.
I give up. You’re evidently not smart enough to understand what I’m saying.
Read the article over and over until you understand.
You keep saying you know me. I have no idea who you are.