Published: July 17, 2008 05:33 pm      

Suspected murderer to face trial later this year

Ada — Allen Keith Gastineau, 25, Ada, charged with first-degree murder in the November shooting death of Crystal Jade Cavanaugh, 26, Ada, was bound over for trial by Judge John David Miller in Pontotoc County District Court Wednesday.

After Miller denied requests from Gastineau’s attorney to dismiss the case or reduce the charge, he set a date for formal arraignment on Aug. 28, at 1 p.m.

Police said in a report Gastineau called 911 at 10:56 p.m. Nov. 24, to report he had shot a woman who walked into his house at 112 Maywood. When officers arrived, they found Gastineau standing in the front doorway talking on his cell phone.

Officers ordered him to drop to his knees. Gastineau complied and officers took him into custody and began a search of the residence. Inside officers found Cavanaugh’s body lying on the floor in a pool of blood. She had been shot multiple times, the report said.

In court, a videotaped police interview with Gastineau was played to Miller. On it, Gastineau said Cavanaugh was beating on his door, saying, “Please let me in, please let me in!” Gastineau said Cavanaugh claimed her boyfriend was beating her.

During the interview, Gastineau said after letting her in, “I loaded one of my pistols in case (the boyfriend) came to the door.”

After leaving the room momentarily, Gastineau said he returned to find Cavanaugh going through some of his stuff and he was afraid she was going to steal something.

“I thought she was going to grab something and run out the front door......so I decided to open up on her,” Gastineau said.

When asked what he meant by open up, Gastineau responded, pull the trigger.

Detective Tracy Jackson said Gastineau fired several .45 caliber bullets into Cavanaugh and after she fell....

“Admitted he stood over her and fired a final shot into her head,” Jackson said on the stand.

A witness testified he, Cavanaugh and her boyfriend, had been drinking that night and Cavanaugh and her boyfriend had gotten into some type of altercation. He said Cavanaugh’s boyfriend kicked her out of the house prior to her going to Gastineau’s door.

Gastineau’s attorney asked Miller to dismiss the case arguing Gastineau was defending himself and his residence from what he perceived as an intruder. Miller asked District Attorney Chris Ross for his response.

“My response is, that’s the most ludicrous argument I’ve ever heard,” Ross said.

According to court documents, Gastineau could face life in prison, life without parole, or death.