The Tamaqua man charged with a murder in Missouri had his case continued.

A plea/trial setting was scheduled for Nov. 19 for Josue Martinez at the Phelps County Courthouse but was continued to Jan. 5, an employee of the Phelps County Clerk of Courts Office said Monday. At the 10 a.m. hearing a trial date could be set and a change of venue request approved, she said.

Martinez and Kimberly Riston, Banning, California, are charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, robbery and tampering with a motor vehicle for the April 21 slaying of Donald Wethy, 36, of St. James. Martinez allegedly stabbed Wethy and left his body in the parking lot of the Economy Inn.

Both remain in the Phelps County Jail.

A pretrial conference is set for Riston 1 p.m. Dec. 21 at the courthouse. Docket information for Riston shows any plea of guilty after the conference will be open and the court will not be bound by any agreement the parties enter into nor any recommendation the state may make. Her trial is set for Jan. 24 to 28 in Texas County, Missouri. The cases are being tried individually.