Mo. Rev. Stat. § 545.460: Removal to be made on application of defendant.

Such order of removal, as specified in sections 545.440 and 545.450, shall be made on the application of the defendant, or where the defendant is under the age of sixteen, then on the application of the parent or guardian of such defendant, or if such defendant has no parent or guardian, then on the application of any respectable citizen of the county where the cause is at issue.