Sentencing today for man convicted in trooper's death   ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH 11/27/2007 Massigh J. Stallmann (left) and Ralph Tatoian UNION -- The subject of a manhunt two years ago will be sentenced today for second-degree murder in the death of a Missouri Highway Patrol trooper who crashed his car while racing to join the search. Massigh J. Stallmann, 28, of High Ridge, was convicted in July of 10 felonies related to the April 20, 2005, incident that resulted in the death of Trooper Ralph C. Tatoian, 32. Prosecutors said Stallmann broke into a store in Mount Sterling, Mo., 75 miles southwest of St. Louis, on that day. He confronted a woman living in an apartment above and stole car keys and cash. When Gasconade County sheriff's deputies arrived, Stallmann fired once and deputies returned fire. Stallmann fled and was seen an hour later running into woods near Leslie, Mo. Tatoian, a trained sniper, was paged at his home near Florissant. As he rushed along Interstate 44 to join the manhunt, he struck a tractor-trailer that had stopped to help another motorist. Missouri law allows a felony murder charge when an officer is killed while responding to aid in a felony arrest.

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