Mo. Rev. Stat. § 545.430: Change of venue may be granted defendant.

Any criminal cause pending in any circuit court may be removed, by the order of such court or the judge thereof, to the circuit court of another county in the same circuit, whenever it shall appear, in the manner provided in section 545.490, that the minds of the inhabitants of the county in which the cause is pending are so prejudiced against the defendant that a fair trial cannot be had therein.