Springfield Cop Charged With Weapons Violations and Driving While Intoxicated:

A Springfield police officer has been placed on paid administrative leave after being charged with several charges related to an alleged DWI accident in Pulaski County last month.

Motte, who lives in Waynesville, has been charged with three felonies; two counts of possession of a weapon while intoxicated, and leaving the scene of an accident. He also faces two misdemeanor charges of careless and imprudent driving, and a single count of driving while intoxicated.

Investigators with The Missouri Highway Patrol say that Motte was driving west on I-44 toward Springfield when his vehicle traveled off the road and was stopped by a cable barrier in the middle of the freeway.

The Springfield News-Leader reports that Police Chief Lynn Rowe says that an internal investigation into Motte's actions and that they should be complete next week. Rowe tells the N-L, "Even if the department's investigation clears Motte of wrongdoing, a conviction on any of the felony charges would make him ineligible to keep his badge."

Motte, who has been with the department for almost a decade is due back in court on December, 19th.


https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/base/welcome.do
08PU-CR00946

08PU-CR00947

UPDATED: Murder Charges Filed Against Spc. Jermaine Johnson In Myria Silva' Murder:

A soldier with a medical support detachment from Mobile, Ala., who was serving at Fort Leonard Wood, has been charged with premeditated murder in the death of a fellow soldiers wife.

Investigators with the Army’s Criminal Investigation Command at Fort Leonard Wood say that, Spc. Jermaine Johnson, who is an Army reserve EMT, allegedly attempted to deceive investigators by giving them false statements regarding the death of 23 year-old Myria Silva.

Uniform Code Of Military Justice charges against Johnson include; premeditated murder, kidnapping, sodomy, adultery, intent to deceive or provide false statements, assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm and obstructing justice.

Johnson, (who is from Iowa) 26, was arrested Oct. 14th at Fort Leonard Wood in connection with the death of Silva that authorities believe happened on or about Oct. 10th. Myria Silva's body was discovered on October 14th in a vacant farmhouse near Niangua in Webster County.

No details were released by the post about how Silva died.

Johnson was serving in Fort Leonard Wood’s General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital as a healthcare specialist.

Authorities in Webster County helped in the recovery of Myria Silva’s body Tuesday, Oct. 14, from a vacant farm near Plank School Road and Rifle Range Road north of Marshfield.

Within two days, they, and investigators with the Missouri Highway Patrol passed their cases over to the Criminal Investigation Command at Fort Leonard Wood when it was determined that a soldier was allegedly involved in Silva's murder.

If convicted of all charges, Johnson could receive the death penalty, or life in prison without the possibility of parole. He is being held in the Fort Knox Regional Confinement Facility in Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Myria Silva was married to another Fort Leonard Wood soldier, Pfc. Benjamin (Benji) Silva, who was deployed to Iraq at the time of her murder. A friend of Myria's said that she told her not to tell Johnson her whereabouts if he came looking for her.

The court martial process against Spc. Jermaine Johnson, one of the highest forms of punishment within the military, has begun. He will be brought back from Kentucky to face the charges.

There is no bail allowed under military rule in cases such as these, therefore, Johnson will be held without bail as his case makes it's way through the legal system.

Note: Here is a good resource as far as questions about the court process within the military.

Link to Jermaine Johnson's MySpace page here.



# # #


News Release From Fort Leonard Wood:

Seven charges were preferred Monday against the Soldier who is accused in the death of Myria Silva, 23, spouse of Pfc. Benjamin Silva, who is assigned to the 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade at Fort Leonard Wood.

Charges against Spc. Jermaine Johnson include:

• Uniform Code of Military Justice, Article 107 – Intent to deceive or provide false statements UCMJ,





• Article 118 – Premeditated Murder UCMJ, Article 125 – one specification of sodomy against Myria Silva UCMJ, Article 128 – one specification of assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm against Myria Silva UCMJ,





• Article 134 – one specification of adultery; one specification of kidnapping; and one specification of obstructing justice If convicted of all charges, the maximum punishment is life in prison without parole, or a death penalty.

Fort Leonard Wood officials emphasize that the charges constitute an accusation and that the accused is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Johnson, 26, was arrested Oct. 14 by the Army’s Criminal Investigation Command at Fort Leonard Wood in connection with the death of Myria Silva on or about Oct. 10.Johnson, an Army reservist with the 7223 Medical Support Detachment 10 from Mobile, Ala., was serving in Fort Leonard Wood’s General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital as a health care specialist.

Jurisdiction of the case was passed to the Army Oct. 16th after an agreement was reached with Webster and Pulaski counties. Currently, Spc. Jermaine Johnson is being held in the Fort Knox Regional Confinement Facility.

Coming Tommorrw: Man With Connections In Christian County Political Circles Pleads Guilty To Child Molestation and Statutory Sodomy:

Police Chief Of Rockaway Beach Charged With Missuse Of Official Information Makes Initial Court Appearance:

The police chief in Rockaway Beach, Bobby Carpenter, made his initial court appearance today.

Carpenter was charged with Misuse Of Official Information By A Public Servant last month. Authorities allege that Carpenter used a MULES report in June, (information that is supposed to only available to law enforcers,) to show the mayor someones criminal record.

Carpenter's attorney, Joe Passanise, waived formal arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty to the misdemeanor charge on his clients behalf.

Carpenter's next scheduled court date is December 2nd.


https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/base/welcome.do
08AF-CR01712

Charges Expected To Be Filed Early Next Week In Myria Silva's Death:

The Criminal Investigation Unit at Fort Leonard Wood expects to have their charges ready to file early next week against a suspect they havecustody in connection with the death of 23 year-old Myria Silva.

Public affairs specialist, Tiffany Wood, said in a press release that the CIU continues to investigate Silvas death as a homicide, and that they are working on "drafting charges against the soldier being held as a suspect."

Myria Silva was found dead on some property in Northern Webster County that held a vacant farmhouse and several outbuildings. The suspect, whose name has not yet been released, allegedly told cops that he killed Silva.

Webster County authorities and the Missouri Highway Patrol turned the investigation over to the Criminal Investigation Unit at Fort Leonard Wood after it was determined that the suspect is a soldier stationed at the post.

Silva’s husband, Pfc. Benjamin (Benji) Silva, is expected to arrive from Iraq this afternoon at the Fort. He has not been provided with the detail's surrounding his wife's death and Wood said they want to give him those facts before releasing them to the public.

Funeral arrangements for Myria Silva have not been announced at this time, and Wood has asked that people respect Pfc. Silva' and the family's right to privacy during the next few days.

UPDATED: Army Criminal Investigation Command At Fort Leonard Wood In Charge Of Soldiers Wife's Murder

Military police officers have taken over the investigation of the murder of a woman found in a vacant house near Niangua early yesterday morning.

Officers with the Webster County Sheriff's office and the Missouri Highway Patrol contacted the owner of the property and told her they had a search warrant for her property in the northeastern part of Webster County. The woman says that cops told her that someone had confessed to stabbing Myria Silva, and hiding her body on the property of the vacant farmhouse.

The investigation was quickly turned over to The United States Army Criminal Investigation Command at Fort Leonard Wood when it was determined that the alleged suspect in Silva's death was a soldier stationed at the post.

Court documents and an evidence report posted on the front of the house state that investigators removed a body, and recovered some rope, a shovel, some comforter type of material and a grill from the house/and property.

Authorities are remaining tight lipped about their suspect. They will only say "that a soldier stationed at Fort Leonard Wood is being held as a suspect in the woman's death."

Friends and family members say that Myria Silva was from Granite City, Illinois; and was the mother of two little girls. The Army Posts website says that she and her husband, Benjamin (Benji), had a little girl last December.

Pfc. Benjamin Silva is stationed at Fort Leonard Wood. Myria Silva was living at the post while her husband was deployed with The 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in Iraq.

Funeral arrangements have not been finalized, and family members, who wish to remain anynomous, are having a hard time even getting a chance to view their loved ones remains. I have been told that authorities are awaiting the return of Pfc. Benjamin Silva's return from Iraq tomorrow afternoon to make the formal identification of his wife.

Note to the person who was sending me Myria's picture....for some reason it did not come through. Would you mind resending it to :

radio_newsrerpoter@yahoo.com

Convicted Child Molester Jason Osborn Ordered To Stand Trial For Two Teenagers Deaths......Prosecutor Says Trial Date Questionable:

A judge has ruled that a convicted sex offender from Oregon will stand trial nearly six years after the man was charged with two counts of second degree murder in Taney County.

Judge John Moody has scheduled 41 year-old Jason Osborn's trial to begin on January 20, 2009 in Wright County.

Prosecutors say that Osborn allegedly let four teenage boys from Rockaway Beach take turns driving his girlfriends car near Walnut Shade in August of 2003.

According to investigators, one of the boys yanked on the steering wheel causing it swerve, plow into a tree and burst into flames. Witnesses say that Osborn ran from the crash, leaving the boys to fend for themselves.

Killed in the fiery crash were Dustin Riesman and Joshua Sparling who were both 14.

Osborn, is also charged with two counts of child endangerment and two counts of enticement of a child. He was ordered to undergo a mental examination in 2006, which he refused. In 2007, after working off and on as his own attorney in the case, Osborn agreed to undergo the exam, and was declared incompetent to stand trial. He was ordered to Fulton State Hospital.

According to Taney County prosecutor, Jeff Merrell, the trial date is questionable,"we are going to have to have an evidentiary hearing to make sure that Mr. Osborn is competent to stand trial before we can proceed to trial." He added, "I don't see that happening before next winter.....I don't understand how it has been put on the trial docket."

The trial has been moved to Wright County on a change of venue.



https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/base/welcome.do
44R050500002 - ST V JASON OSBORN

Andrew Giese Sentenced To Seven Years In Prison...Will Testify Against Father And Brother

A young man from Texas County who was originally charged with second degree murder, but, who has agreed to help prosecutors with their murder cases against his father and brother was sentenced to seven years in prison on Tuesday.

Andrew Geise, 19, agreed to help prosecutors last month shortly before his trial was to begin. Investigators say that in March of 2006, Nathaniel "Tommy" Geise and his father, Kurt, were participants in the death of 19 year-old Travis Walker.

Walker and two friends drove to the Geise home looking for the person they believed was responsible for attempting to force their vehicle of the road on March 19, 2006.

Kurt Geise allegedly pulled Robert Brummitt, who was the driver, from the car and held him at gunpoint while Andrew Geise beat him with an aluminum baseball bat.

Walker was also beaten by Andrew Geise before Tommy Geise allegedly fired the shot that killed him, according to prosecutors.

Nathaniel "Tommy" Geise' trial is scheduled to begin in April of next year; his father, Kurt's is scheduled to get underway in May of 2009.

https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/base/welcome.do
25R090600248 - ST V ANDREW T GEISE

Terry Lynn Huey Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison For 2007 Murder

A man from Harrison, Arkansas was sentenced to twenty years in prison for a murder that happened in July of 2007.

Prosecutor Jeff Merrell says that a jury found Terry Lynn Huey guilty in the stabbing death of killing Dewayne Anthony Lynn in August.

Merrell says that Huey lent Lynn $30, and that he wanted it back. A fight broke out at the Crescent Court motel and Huey stabbed Lynn, nicking him in an artery. He bled to death before he could reach the hospital which was just three blocks away.

Huey was sentenced to twenty years for second degree murder; ten years on Armed Criminal Action; and four years for Unlawful Use Of A Weapon.

Those sentences are to be served concurrently (together.) Huey will have to serve at least 85% or 17 years of his sentence because of the Armed Criminal Action charge before he will be eligible for parole.

UPDATED: Joplin Businessman Gary Hall Indicted On Federal Charges

For Updates Go To Bottom Of Story:

Federal charges have been filed against Joplin businessman, Gary Lester Hall, who is the owner and president of cigarette wholesale business, Sunflower Supply Company in Galena, Kansas.

The investigation into Hall and several others (seven of the eight charged live in Joplin, MO, or Galena, KS--one lives in OK) began two and a half years and resulted in the 43 count federal indictment that was unsealed and read today.

The fed's allege that Hall and his co-defendants conspired to bilk the states of Oklahoma and Native American Indian tribes out of at least $25 million in shared lost tax revenue.

Friday's 43 count indictment includes multiple counts of mail and wire fraud involving cigarette orders and the transfer of close to one million dollars from one smoke shop in Oklahoma.

A spokesperson with the ATF say that Hall's house near Joplin, a jet
and property in Las Vegas will be seized.

UPDATE: Hall has been released on $100,000 bond according to his attorney, Dan Monnat. Monnat told The Associated Press that, "Gary Hall is a well-respected businessman and philanthropist from southeast Kansas, and he insists he is innocent, and he welcomes a jury trial that will establish that fact."

UPDATE: 01-29-08:

A federal judge in Oklahoma has told prosecutors that he will not rule on a motion filed with the court to determine whether alleged cigarette-trafficker Gary L. Hall is using millions of dollars at his disposal to influence the outcome of pending litigation filed against him and several of his employees.

In Ocotber, Hall and several of his employees were charged with money laundering, mail fraud and other various other charges in a 43 count federal indictiment in October.

The Tulsa World has reported that Hall reportedly made $110 million on the sale of the Medallion Co., a discount cigarette company in 2002.

Prosecutors say they want a ruling on whether or not it is legal for Hall to be paying for the legal expenses of many of the other defendants. They say that it keeps them from be able to make plea agreements that could implicate Hall.

U.S. District Judge Monti Belot denied the prosecution's motion without prejudice on Jan. 14, 2009. Belot wrote in his ruling: "While the court is somewhat concerned that Hall (supposedly) is paying for all of the defendants' attorneys, this fact alone, assuming it is true, does not trigger an inquiry. As previously noted on the record, the court knows all the lawyers in this case, each of whom is highly ethical and will zealously represent the interests of, and only of, his client(s).

UPDATE 10-10-09:

The evidence seized when federal agents stopped a van driven by a man employed by Joplin millionaire Gary Hall has been tossed out of court.

The feds alleged that Hall and his co-defendants conspired to bilk the states of Oklahoma and Kansas as well as Native American Indian tribes out of at least $25 million in shared lost tax revenue.

Investigators claimed that in 2006, the Kansas Highway Patrol pulled over a truck carrying more than $200,000 worth of cigarettes without proper documentation and tax stamps.

Authorities claimed that Hall and some associates were pocketing millions of dollars in undocumented revenue a scheme to avoid paying tobacco taxes.

A federal judge ruled that the trooper stopped the van without probable cause, therefore any evidence that was seized in that stop cannot be used in the case.

There is no word on how the ruling will affect the 53 count indictment filed against Hall and his business associates. Federal prosecutors say the charges, "are not going away."

Hall owns Sunflower Supply Company, a tobacco wholesale business based in Galena, Kansas.

Joplin Police Recover Officers Stolen Rifle, Uniforms and Personal Truck In Burglary:

An off duty Joplin police officer had his department issued rifle, two uniforms and his personal truck stolen from his garage last night. With a little luck, and some outstanding detective work, cops recovered all of the stolen items late this afternoon.

Lt. Brian Lewis says "detectives with the department were out looking for their fellow officers stolen pick-up truck when they got lucky and spotted it."

By the time cops had caught up with the stolen 2007 Dodge Ram, "the male occupant had fled the vehicle and ditched the firearm nearby the vehicle." Lewis said, "the investigation is continuing and they have developed several solid leads and hope to have a suspect in jail very soon."

Dallas County Prosecutor Will Not File Charges In Fatal Shooting Involving Sheriff

He's got just a couple of weeks left to serve as the top cop in Dallas County, but Sheriff Mike Rackley will get to serve out the remainder of his term as he awaits election results on November 4th.

Sheriff Rackley and two deputies were attempting to serve search warrants at a mobile home near Tunas two weeks ago when they say Cory Scharp lunged at them with a knife.

The Missouri Highway patrol conducted the investigation into the the fatal shooting and presented their evidence to Prosecuting Attorney Wayne Rieschel.

Rieschel determined that the officers were justified in protecting themselves, and he says that he will not file any charges against any of the officers involved.

Tallen Davidson's Mother Sentenced To Ten Years In Prison For Son's Death

The mother of a toddler who died of shaken baby syndrome almost three years ago has been been sentenced to ten years in jail for her little boys death.

-

In February of 2006, Karissa Hoyt's boyfriend, Gary Lynn Baker Jr., took Hoyt's battered and bruised 3 year-old, Tallen Davidson, to the ER at St. John's Hospital in Lebanon. Hospital staff immdediatley noted that his injuries were not consistent with the story they were told of Davidison falling and contacted authorities.

-



Karissa Michelle Hoyt (mug shot MDOC)

 -

Hoyt ,was originally charged with felony child abuse two days after Tallen's death, however, that charge was amended to voluntary manslaughter after Hoyt entered an Alford plea shortly before her trial was to begin last August.

NOTE: Tallen's grandmother has set up a website dedicated to him.

-

An Alford plea is a plea in which the defendant admits that prosecutors have enough evidence to obtain a conviction, but does not admit committing the offense.
-

Gary Baker Jr. (mug shot MDOC)

-

Gary Lynn Baker, Jr., is serving time in jail for an unrelated drug crime.

https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/base/welcome.do
06LA-CR00269-02 - ST V KARISSA MICHELLE HOYT

UPDATED:Homicide Of Jasper County Couple Filled With Hate According To Sheriff

UPDATES AT BOTTOM:



We've all seen or heard of the first 48, it's the crucial time when investigators hope to have a murder solved...or at least have questioned a suspect/s.

Within the first 48 hours of authorities investigating the brutal death of a reserve Jasper County, Mo, sheriffs deputy, and his wife, cops have discovered that the 911 call made to the sheriffs department to report the crime wasn't recorded.


Daniel Sheldon was concerned that his elderly parents didn't show up for church services and went to check on his folks. What he found was his mother dead, in a pool of blood in the hallway of the family home. He reportedly told a 911 operator that he believed his mother had been shot.

What officers found when they arrived at the scene spooked even investigators who thought they had seen it all. The family dog shot.......notes scrawled in the victims blood on walls, two people dead......IN CARTHAGE, MISSOURI!!!

The biggest thing in Carthage Missouri is the Precious Moments Chapel. It's a Mayberry kind of place, where people in the rural parts of the county still sleep with their doors unlocked.

Well, at least some of them did until Sunday.

Robert Charles Sheldon and Ellen Louise Ogden were married in 1957, the home that they shared was at the end of a dead end lane on North Powder Lane. Also located on the property was, The Old Cabin Shop, a business that the Sheldons sold guns and archery equipment out of for twenty eight years. Ironically, the property held the first courthouse in the county in the 1800's.

Sheriff Archie Dunn said that "he was misunderstood when he said that this was a hate crime, however, he says the crime scene was filled with hate." He doesn't believe it is related to race, gender or religion. He says whoever did it.... hated those people."

There are two entrances and exits to the property; both are now barricaded in yellow crime scene tape and guarded by deputies that were activated with The Tri-State Major Case Squad.

The squad includes thirty five officers from agencies in Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri.

Investigators are searching for a vehicle that was seen turning into the Sheldon's driveway sometime late Saturday evening, but Dunn wouldn’t release a make or model of the vehicle.

Dunn will not confirm,( this is an excellent interview by KTTS reporter, Jason Rima,) a cause of death in how the couple died. An autopsy on the Sheldon's will be conducted in Columbia.

They are survived by two sons and two daughters who are cooperating with investigators to develop leads into their parents deaths.

“It’s still going slow,” Dunn said. “We hope to get something earth-shattering today that will help the investigation.”

If you have any information that can help authorities with their investigation call the major case squad at 417-358-8177.



Visitation for the couple will be held at Fairview Christian Church, Carthage from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008. Funeral Services are scheduled forat 10 a.m., Friday, Oct. 17, 2008, also at Fairview Christian Church. Donations in the Sheldons’ honor may be made to the Homebuilders Class c/o Fairview Christian Church or c/o Ulmer Funeral Home.

UPDATE: Saturday, December 13, 2008

Reward Fund Set Up To Capture Robert And Ellen Sheldons Killer:

A reward fund has been set up by an anonymous donor to help catch and convict the killer/or killers in the double murder of an elderly couple in Jasper County.In early October, after 70-year-old Bob Sheldon and his wife, 71-year-old Ellen, didn't show up for church one of their sons went to check on them.

What he discovered was a gruesome crime scene; his mother lying on the floor in one room, his father in the another murdered along with the family dog.

The tri-state major case squad received dozens of calls and "persons of interest," but have yet to make any break in the case. Sheriff Archie Dunn told me "that they have received several leads in the case, but they are drying up."

The Sheldons owned and operated a gun shop The Old Cabin Shop on their property. If you would like to donate to the fund, you can do so at at any UMB Bank, or the local UMB bank at 300 Grant St., Carthage.

Donations are also being accepted at, The Old Cabin Shop at 155 N. Black Powder Lane, which is open on weekends.

If you know anything about the case you're asked to call the Jasper County Sheriff's Office tip line. That number is 417-781-TIPS (8477) and make sure you leave a detailed message so that detectives can follow up on your lead.

UPDATE Friday, February 13, 2009:

Still No Leads In Robert And Ellen Sheldon Murder:

It's been four months since Robert and Ellen Sheldon were murdered in their home near Carthage and the case remains unsolved.

It's been an agonizing ordeal for the family and friends of the Sheldon's to live with the thought that their loved ones were so brutally murdered in the home they shared for over thirty years.

Now the family, with help from anonymous donors, is offering a $20,000 reward for the tip that helps solve the heinous crime.

The Jasper County sheriff's department follows up on every lead they receive, but none have panned out as of yet.

Larry Ogden, Ellen Sheldon's brother lives in the couples home now. He and other family members are keeping the business that Robert loved so much, the Old Cabin Shop, that sits adjacent to their home open.

The Tri-State Major Case Squad was activated in at the beginning of the investigation of the Sheldon's murder, however, when early leads ran out they turned it over solely to the Jasper County Sheriff's Department.

Sheriff Archie Dunn believes the case will be solved, he just doesn't know when.

Some forensic evidence that was sent to the Missouri State Crime Lab in Jefferson City has not come back yet.

Robert Sheldon Jr. and Daniel (Danny) Sheldon say that a fund-raiser is planned to help increase the reward fund on March 12th at Fairview Christian Church in Carthage.

There will be a dinner and fellowship at 5 p.m., followed by a live auction at 7 p.m.

Food for the dinner is being provided by Cloud’s Meats and Savannah’s Restaurant in Carthage.

Prostitution Sting Busted In Branson

Who would have thunk it......a prostitution ring busted in Branson!!! But that appears to be the cold hard truth in the family friendly town.

Branson Police chief, Carroll Mccollough said, "my department conducted an investigation with the regional drug task force regarding a tip about illegal activity." That tip led to the arrests of a prostitution sting that took place on Thursday, netting the arrest of four women ranging, in age from eighteen to fourty three in various hotels in the town. Three of the hookers are from Springfield, and one was lives in Branson.

Taney County Prosecutor, Jeff Merrell, is reviewing the case to ascertain if he will file charges against the women. The women were booked and released on their on recognize.

Stolen Guns In Christian County Sold On School Property In Bolivar

Three teenagers that were in possession of stolen property are in big trouble with authorities in three different counties.

Hickory County Sheriff, Ray Tipton, alerted law agencies that someone had come into his office and attempted to register a stolen handgun. Tipton says that when a deputy ran the gun for registration it came back as stolen out of Christian County.

Christian County Sheriff's Department Captain, Jeremy Whitehill, said "two acquaintances of the gun owner who lives near Nixa stole nine guns as well as a car stereo and several BB guns."

After questioning several students about the gun theft, Bolivar police chief Michael Seibert said, "We found a number of kids at the high school who had bought guns from one of the juveniles." After further questioning of the students, police found guns in the trunk of one of the kids mother's," Seibert said. "Two of the guns were purchased before football practice on September 27th, and possibly on school property during the week," according to Chief Seibert.

Having possession of guns and selling them on school property violates the Safe Schools Act.“When you have open lines of communication between departments, these things work out well,” Whitehill said. “We have to give a lot of credit to the Hickory County Sheriff’s Department and the Bolivar Police Department.”

According to the Superintendent of the Bolivar School District, Steve Morgan, when the Safe Schools act is violated, the range of punishment is a 180-day suspension from school and it could go all the way up to permanent expulsion. The students, however, have a chance to appeal that.

Chief Seibert is thankful about one thing, "we were lucky enough to come across the guns, what would have ended up happening with them, no one knows."

Coming Tomorrow: Stolen Guns Sold On School Property

Fugitive In Joplin Murder Profiled On Americas Most Wanted

The murder of a Joplin man two years ago has garnered a profile on a national crime show. Now cops in Jasper County are hoping that someone will call in with a tip to Americas Most Wanted and give the fugitive, who is an illegal immigrant, up.

Detectives say that, Joshua Olson of Duenweg, MO., and a friend went out searching for two brothers that Olson believed were responsible for stealing the rims off of his vehicle on July 14, 2006.

Their search led them to a house in the 1600 block of South Pearl St. in Joplin. It was there that Josh and his friend tracked down, Jose Deleon Alberto-Cazares, who cops say uses the street name "Chino," and Gerardo Cazares Jr., who is known as "Jerry." Law enforcers say that Olson told the Cazares brothers that he wanted his property back.

Lieutenant Brian Lewis, with the Joplin Police Department, says that an "argument started to boil over between Josh and the Cazares brothers, and to avoid further conflict, Josh turned away and walked to his car." Enraged, Jose Cazares followed Olson to his car, where at point blank range he shot the man in the head.

Detective Mike Hobson says that investigators initially hit some stumbling blocks in the beginning of their probe into Olson's murder. The friend who accompanied Olson to the Cazares brothers house didn't want to identify the alleged shooter because "he wanted to take matters into his own hands and avenge his friends death."

The Jasper County prosecutors office issued a felony warrant for Jose "Chino" Cazares Jr., on July 21, 2007. He has been charged with second degree murder and armed criminal action in Joshua Olson's death. No charges have been file against, Gerardo "Jerry" Cazares Jr., however, investigators want to talk with him.

Lewis says that Jose "Chino" Cazares has numerous aunts and uncles who live in Brownsville, Texas, and authorities believe that he is traveling back and forth between the border town and Matamoras, Mexico, where agents are on the lookout for him.

More Legal Wrangling In Rolland Comstock Murder Investigation

It's been fifteen months since Rolland Comstock's assistant, Becky Frakes, found him dead on the floor of his north Springfield mansion. He had been shot four times; three times in the head, and once in the abdomen.

No one has been charged with the mans death, but, the legal wranglings of family members make the former state representatives death as intriguing as any murder mystery book that lined his vast home library.


Comstock, a tax and probate attorney, once represented an English bulldog that was left close to $100,000 dollars by it's owner. He was also a renowned book collector, known internationally for his collection that experts say numbered close to 50,000 books, many of them signed first editions.

In June of this year court documents revealed that detectives were interested in two family members for the crime.

Cops say that a cigarette butt; legal papers related to Comstock's divorce from his ex-wife Alberta; and bullet shell casings recovered at the scene (that matched a hand gun that had been purchased by Comstock's former wife the day before his death,) were all being analyzed.

When asked in an interview several years ago if his library had anymore room for books, he scanned the room that he was so proud of and whispered, "I wouldn't want to say without checking to see if this room is bugged, if my wife would hear me say that we're running very short on room, I think she'd murder me tonight!"

Investigators say DNA from that cigarette butt matches, Michael "Andy" Comstock, the son that Rolland adopted early in his marriage to Alberta; and that the legal paperwork was from Alberta's attorney, therefore it should not have been in Rolland's house.

Rolland and Alberta Comstock divorced in 2005 after 38 years of marriage and were involved in a bitter dispute over a $215,000 settlement Rolland Comstock was to pay. Both Alberta and Michael Comstock say that it had been years since they had been in the home near McDaniel Lake.

A year after her fathers murder, Faith Stocker, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against her mother for her adopted fathers death. Her lawsuit states, "On or about July 3, 2007, Defendant, acting alone or in conspiracy with another, shot (Rolland Comstock) four times with a .38 caliber weapon," it goes on to say, "Defendants' acts were the direct and proximate cause of the Decedent's death."

Last week Alberta Comstock's attorney, Tim Richardson, filed a motion asking the court to dismiss the civil lawsuit that Stocker filed that names her mother responsible for Rolland Comstock's death.

The chief deputy of the Greene County sheriffs department, Jim Arnott, is confident that detectives in his department are close to handing their files to the prosecutors office and would not comment on specific suspects in the case saying only, "We have multiple suspects for different charges involved in this case."

NOTE: Comstock House went up for auction in June and failed to elicit a single a bid.

September 2008--Alberta Comstock asks a judge to throw out wrongful death suit filed against her.

January 8, 2008: Judge rules that wrongful death lawsuit may proceed. Alberta Comstock's attorney, Timothy Richardson, told the court, "criminal cases get filed against innocent people all the time."

Man Shot By Dallas County Sheriff Has Died

A man who was shot Wednesday by Dallas County Sheriff Mike Rackley has died.

Rackley says that twenty four year-old, Cory Scharp, of Lebanon lunged at him with a pocket knife when he and two deputies went to serve a couple of warrants at a mobile home near Pumpkin Center. Scharp was not one of the people that officers were searching for.

Rackley has been placed on paid administrative leave which is customary in officer related shootings. The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating the shooting and says it could take about six weeks for them to come back with their findings. Until they do Dallas County Chief Deputy Henry Thiesen will act as interim sheriff.

Rackley is running for re-election as Dallas County sheriff in November.

Trial Date Set In Gerald Carnahan Murder Trial:

A judge in St. Louis County wants jury selection to begin on July 27, 2009, in the trial of Gerald Carnahan. Carnahan was charged last August with the 20 year-old murder of former beauty queen Jackie Johns.

Advances in DNA technology led to charges against Carnahan, the man who was long considered the "chief suspect," in the case.

However, most of the motions that were heard today had to do with DNA......and the defense teams lack of access to it. Carnahan's attorneys, Dee Wampler and Joe Passanise want a sample of the states evidence to be tested by an independent laboratory.

Wampler and Passanise, as well as Greene County Prosecutor Darrell Moore are scheduled to appear in front of judge Michael Jamison for an evidentiary hearing on December 5th.

The trial was moved to St. Louis County on a change of venue in July because of intense media coverage.

# # #
The chief suspect in a crime that happened over 20 years ago has been charged with first degree murder and forcible rape in Jackie Johns murder. It's a case that has literally followed Gerald Carnahan around the world.


Prosecutors say that the now 50 year-old Carnahan raped and murdered the 20 year-old part time waitress, and former homecoming queen late on June 17 or early June 18, 1985 . Johns' nude body was found four and a half days later floating in Lake Springfield.

Witnesses claim to have seen Carnahan sitting in his truck behind a business where the young woman stopped and was last seen alive. Carnahan admitted that he knew Johns, having once employed her. He told lawmen that he was not responsible for the woman's death, and that he had an alibi.

He claimed to be at a bar with his step daughter when the murder took place. His step daughter, Sara Collins, backed that story up. Carnahan, was indicted in 1986 by a grand jury on tampering with evidence charges for allegedly lying to investigators who questioned him about Johns murder.

However, those charges were dismissed by a judge who said, "lying does not constitute physical evidence of a crime." Carnahan's step-daughter, Sara Collins, was also indicted by the grand jury for perjury, but was later found innocent by a judge.

In the years since Jackie Johns' murder, Carnahan has been in and out of jail....and half way around the world in China. In 1992, Carnahan's wife Patricia filed an adult abuse restraining order but dropped it shortly thereafter.

In 1993, he was convicted of the attempted kidnapping of 18 year-old Heather Starkey in Springfield and sentenced to two years in prison. In July of the same year, cops were dispatched to his house to investigate an alarm call. Carnahan, who had been drinking heavily met responding officers with a shotgun. After a scuffle with lawmen, he kicked one officer. He was charged with assault of a law enforcement officer and handling a gun while drunk. He was sentenced to 15 months for that crime.

1993 is probably a year that Carnahan would like to forget, because in September, he burglarized a competitor's business in Aurora and torched it. After pleading guilty to that crime, he was sentenced to four years in prison.

In September of 1997, Carnahan, was released from prison and went to work in the family business, Springfield Marine. They deal in aluminum and plastics. Those business ventures took the now paunchy middle aged man to China for eight to nine months of the year.

In October of last year, a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper, Sgt.Daniel Nash, had "some time on his hands," and asked if he could look into cold cases. The case he picked was the Jackie Johns case. Evidence that was collected from Jackie's vehicle, and the vaginal swab taken from the woman's body 22 years earlier had been preserved.

With new advances in testing available, the trooper took the preserved evidence to the state crime lab in Jefferson City. The trooper received a DNA profile in March from, Cody Wright, Jackie John's boyfriend at the time of her murder.....there was no match.

On August 8th, 2007, Sgt. Nash presented his case to a judge. There was no DNA profile either in CODIS, OR AFIS, for Gerald Carnahan. The judge, issued a warrant for a sample of Carnahan's DNA. Within twenty four hours of the buccal swab they had a match between Carnahan's DNA profile and the vaginal swab that had so prudently been cared for by officers for twenty two years.

Because of Carnahan's overseas ventures and the man's business connections, Greene County Prosecutor, Darrell Moore, asked that he be held with no bond. Of course, Carnahans lawyers, Dee Wampler, and Joe Passanise had something to say about that. They have asked for a bond hearing, which was denied.

In May, Prosecutor Darrell Moore announced that he would not seek the death penalty in the case. He made that decision after consulting with Johns' relatives, who he says support the death penalty. A big factor in his decision was Jackie's father, Les Johns, 80, whose health is declining and would like to see a resolution to the case before he dies.

The case was moved to St. Louis County in July on a change of venue because of extensive media coverage of the case.

(Kathee Baird)

------------------------------------------------


Timeline----In Jackie Johns Case: Gerald Carnahan DOB 4/15/58


June 17, 1985 -- Jackie Johns' a part-time waitress at the Nixa Livestock and Sale Barn Cafe and former Nixa Homecoming queen goes missing.

June 18, 1985 -- Johns' black Camaro is found on the shoulder of U.S. 160 between Nixa and Springfield. Investigators found a "large amount of blood,"as well several pieces of woman's clothing (they include: a woman blouse, blue jeans, panties and a bra that are "soaked in blood," in the back seat of the vehicle. A car jack that has blood and strands of hair on it are found in the trunk. Jackie's keys were still in the ignition.

June 22, 1985 -- After an intense 4 and a half day search by the community, Jackie Johns' nude body was found by two fishermen in Lake Springfield. She died of severe head injury to the right side of the head (blunt force trauma,) she also had severe blows to the face. An anonymous caller states that they saw Carnahan's very distinctive truck at the 7-Eleven in Nixa at/or about the same time (10:30-11:00 p.m.) as Jackie Johns on June 17th.

June 24, 1985 -- Gerald Carnahan, who was 28 at the time, is questioned by police about Jackie's murder. He admits that he knew Johns, (having employed her at one time,) but insists that at the time of Jackie's murder, he was at a bar with his stepdaughter, Sara Collins. Collins, backs his story up. Carnahan admits to owning a pickup truck matching anonymous caller's description.

June 29, 1985 -- Officers conduct an interview with a witness who reported seeing Carnahan at 7-Eleven in Nixa on June 17th.

Jan. 18, 1986 -- Officers interview a witness who said he/or she saw Carnahan's truck parked on the side of a road near the intersection of CC in Nixa . The witness said that when he/or she asked Carnahan about what was wrong with the vehicle, he denied being there. The witness said that over the years Carnahan approached him/or her several times, saying "not to tell authorities, or the grand jury that he/or she saw the truck."

1986 -- A grand jury indicts Carnahan on charges of tampering with physical evidence. The charge alleges Carnahan lied to police during interviews. A judge dismisses the case, saying "lying does not constitute physical evidence."Carnahan's step-daughter, Sara Collins, is indicted by the grand jury for perjury.

1987---- Sara Collins is found innocent of perjury by a judge.

March 1993 -- Carnahan attempts to kidnap an 18-year-old woman from the side of Ingram Mill Road in Springfield. He is convicted on that charge, and sentenced to two years in prison for the crime.

July 1993 -- Police are dispatched to Gerald Carnahan's home in response to an alarm. Carnahan is drunk, and brandishes a shotgun at responding officers. During a struggle with authorities, he kicks an officer. He is later sentenced to 15 months in prison for assaulting an officer, and using a gun while drunk.

Sept. 17, 1993 -- Carnahan burglarizes and set fire to Custom Aluminum Foundry in Aurora. He later pleads guilty to the burglary, ($60,000 worth of equipment was stolen) and arson and is sentenced to four years in prison.

Sept. 29, 1993 -- A witness steps forward who says Carnahan confessed to killing Jackie Johns to him/or her, saying: "Yeah I know, I did it, but they are so incompetent, they can't prove it."

Sept. 19, 1997 -- Carnahan is released from jail on the arson and burglary charges.

Fall of 2006---------A Missouri Highway Patrol Trooper "with time on his hands," asks to review cold cases and picks the Jackie Johns case. Evidence that was collected from Jackie's vehicle, and the vaginal swab taken from the woman's body 21 years ago had been preserved. With new advances in testing available, the trooper takes the evidence to the state crime lab in Jefferson City.

March 2007---The trooper received a DNA profile from, Cody Wright, Jackie John's boyfriend at the time of her murder.....there is no match.

Aug. 8, 2007 ---The trooper, Sgt. Daniel Nash, presents his case to a judge.There was no DNA profile either in CODIS, OR AFIS, for Gerald Carnahan. The judge, issues a warrant for a DNA profile on Gerald Carnahan.

Aug. 9, 2007 --- Gerald Carnahan, 49, is arrested and charged with first degree murder, and forcible rape for the killing of Jackie John's. If convicted on the murder charge, Carnahan could receive the death penalty, or life in prison. If convicted of forcible rape, he could receive 10 to 30 years on. A life sentence in the state of Missouri is 30 years.

March 2008---Judge finds there is probable cause for Carnahan to stand trial for Johns murder.

May 2008----Greene County Prosecutor Darrell Moore announces that he will NOT seek the death penalty in the case. Cites age and health of Johns father, Les, as a contributing factor in his decision.

October 2nd, 2008----Dee Wampler and Darrell Moore appear in a St. Louis County courtroom where judge Michael Jamison sets an evidentiary hearing for December 5th; and a tentative trial date of July 27, 2009.

December 5, 2008-----Gerald Carnahan takes the stand for the first time in the Jackie Johns murder case to request the judge set a reasonable bond with conditions so that he could be released until trial. According to defense attorney Dee Wampler, the judge stated, "this is a serious case and that even though he had been in jail for 15 months....that is exactly where he will stay."

Wampler also filed a motion with the court to have Greene County prosecutor Darrell Moore disqualified from the case citing a conflict of interest. An assistant prosecutor with Moore's office had gone to work for the law firm of Wampler and Passanise, but has since returned to the prosecutors office. The judge denied that motion as well.


Winter 2008 - Spring of 2009-----A myriad of pre-trial motions (at least 23,) and at least 31 specific motions for discovery filed by defense attorneys clog the Carnahan case file.

July 9, 2009-----Defense attorney Dee Wampler says that he and Greene County Prosecutor Darrell Moore will meet with Judge Michael Jamison in St. Louis to come up with a new trial date. Wampler says, "we went to Louisiana last month to dispose and interview witnesses, and we have to conduct many more.....I don't see this case being heard before the end of the year."

February 2010----Defense attorney Dee Wampler is diagnosed with kidney and prostate cancer. Carnahan's March 2010 trial date is postponed so Wampler can undergo surgery and treatment. A September 13, 2010 trial date is set. Les John's, Jackie's father, says he doesn't believe the case will ever proceed to trial....or if it does, he's afraid he won't live long enough to see it happen.

Woman Charged In Stabbing Death Of Elderly Man

A 21 year-old woman from Springfield has been charged with second degree murder and armed criminal action for the stabbing death of an elderly man.

Investigators say that Deidra Muenks told them that she stabbed 60 year-old Arthur Brashear multiple times during a fight at the mans apartment on August 12th. In the probable cause statement, Detective Tad Peter's says that Muenks told him that "Brashear was sitting up, moving and making noise when she left him, but she didn't call for an ambulance to provide him medical assistance or police to report the incident."

Brashear, who lived in the Grandview Village Apartments, was found dead by the apartments manager who became concerned after she had not seen him or his vehicle for several days.

Authorities searched almost two months for Muenks, who is a known drug dealer and has prior convictions for burglary, robbery and tampering.

https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/base/welcome.do

0831-CR07686 - ST V DEIDRA MUENKS

Dallas County Sheriff On Paid Administrative Leave Following Shooting

What started out as a routine Wednesday for Sheriff Mike Rackley ended up being anything but routine today.

Dallas County's top cop and two deputies were serving search warrants on a burglary suspect and another man at a mobile home near Pumpkin Center when a man flashed a knife at lawmen. That man ran into a bedroom, and when he came out, he was still armed with a pocket knife and allegedly lunged at Rackley. Rackley fired one shot, critically injuring the 24 year-old man.

However, witnesses inside the trailer have a different story. They say the man that was shot was not wanted, and that he did not have a weapon when he was shot.

Rackley, who was place on paid administrative leave while the Missouri Highway Patrol conducts an investigation into the officer involved shooting is running for re-election in November. Dallas County Chief Deputy Henry Thiesen will serve as interim sheriff until the investigation is complete.

Texas County Man Who Eluded Authorities For Two Months Found Guilty Of Voluntary Manslaughter

A Texas County who made national news headlines last year after allegedly murdering wife has been found guilty of voluntary manslaughter.



Neldon Neal, 62, eluded capture for sixty two days following the shooting death of his wife, Judy Lewis, during a domestic disturbance in March 2007. According to police reports, Judy Lewis' former daughter-in-law, Marsha Sumrall, who lived with the couple did not like the way that Neal was treating Lewis and said something about it.

That angered Neal who went and got his shotgun and pointed it at the daughter-in-law. In a move that cost her her life, Judy Lewis stepped in front of the woman with her gun to protect her. Neal wrestled Lewis' gun from her, and fired one shot from it; that shot went through Lewis' heart and lung.



Lewis' daughter in law and a friend put the injured woman in her car, and they raced to Walt's convenience store in Roby to get help for Lewis, but, it was too late, she was already dead. While the women were attempting to get help for Lewis, Neal was gathering guns, and clothing determined he wasn't going to go back to prison.


In April, there was a break in the case. Authorities charged four women with providing the fugitive with food and supplies. The statements those women provided to police led them to a hollowed out tree in the Mark Twain Nation forest. Texas County Sheriff Carl Watson said that authorities were once so close to the tree to Neal could see their badges. Neal then moved about five miles through the forest and set up camp near a steep incline where he set up tarps, and slept in a sleeping bag in a very remote area of the forest.



Investigators with The Missouri State Highway Patrol found Neal along the Gasconade River in Laclede County. Authorities say the "drew him out," after following Neal's son to his hideout.


In May, Neal pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Neal admitted that he did indeed possess a Raven .25-caliber pistol when he fatally shot his wife in March of 2007. Neal also admitted that he was in possession of a handgun when he was apprehended in May of 2007.

Last month, Neal was sentenced on the federal charges, he received a 17 year sentence. That sentence will be served following whatever prison sentence he receives for Lewis' murder. He also owes the state some time on a nine year prison sentence for armed robbery as well.


The trial was moved to Pulaski County on a change of venue. Jury selection began last week in Moniteau County; the jury was bused to Pulaski County to hear testimony.

The normal range of punishment for voluntary manslaughter is five to fifteen years. However, due to Neal's prior criminal history and the armed criminal action charge Texas County prosecutor, Mike Anderson, said he believes Neal will receive a life sentence. That's thirty years in Missouri.

Neal is scheduled to be sentenced December 3rd.