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MEXICO, MO. -- KHQA spoke with Brent Engel of the Hannibal Courier-Post. He writes:

Three family members pleaded not guilty Wednesday to murdering a man in their home just before Christmas last year, and one of them promises to speak out while a deal could be in the works for another.

Charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and armed criminal action are 38-year-old Chester C. Harvey Jr. and his 34-year-old wife, Angela D. Harvey, both of Laddonia, and Harvey’s son, 19-year-old Chad M. Harvey, of Eolia.

Chester and Angela Harvey smiled at each other and kept their eyes upon one another during arraignments Wednesday morning before Judge Keith M. Sutherland in Audrain County Circuit Court at Mexico. Chad Harvey was arraigned later in the day.

“I’ll speak out eventually, but today’s not the day,” Chester Harvey said as he was led back to a sheriff’s department vehicle for the return trip to jail.

Earlier, before the hearing began, Chester Harvey was led into the courtroom and seated in a chair near the jury box away from other prisoners. “Is this the one with the current in it?” he jokingly asked deputies.

Angela Harvey did not respond to questions, but in court she seemed to silently mouth the words “I miss you, I love you” to her husband. Her attorney, Leecia Carnes, declined to comment.

Chad Harvey also was silent, but his lawyer, Stephan Bell, talked about the case after the hearing.

Bell said she and Audrain County Prosecuting Attorney Jacob W. Shellabarger have had discussions, but declined to specify the nature of the talks. “We’re still negotiating with the prosecutor,” Bell said.

Shellabarger declined to say if a deal had been proposed by either side because the investigation was ongoing. “It’s a complex case,” he said. Bell said that one thing that isn’t on the table is her client testifying against the other defendants in exchange for lesser charges.