A man from Indian Point who was charged with capital murder in the '70's and convicted of manslaughter has been busted for impersonating a law enforcement official in Stone County.
Stone County Sheriff Richard Hill says that Mark Sager, 48, aka "Maverick", lives on a houseboat at Indian Point and alleges that the man told several law enforcers and other people in the community that he was an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Hill says that, " 'Maverick' had a retired police vehicle that he outfitted with lights, sirens and two way radio communications. He explained that although retired, he kept his car ready to assist where needed, and carried a firearm as protection from people he had dealt with in the past. He would also walk around the marina with an exposed weapon, handcuffs, pager, phone and a spare magazine on his belt."
According to Hill, " 'Maverick' would back up law enforcement officers on different occasions by arriving at the scene of a traffic stop or a call for service. As Stone County Deputies interacted with 'Maverick' more frequently, they became suspicious." When he showed up to assist officers on a traffic stop on June 13th in Indian Point they decided it was time to run a criminal background check on him.
The background check revealed that "Maverick's" real name is Mark Edward Sager. Sager was originally from the Platte County Area in Northern Kansas City. In 1977, when he was seventeen years-old, Sager was arrested on a capital murder charge for the September 2, 1977, death of 14 year-old Julie Wittmeyer.
A Boone County jury had a problem with some of the/or lack of evidence and conflicting expert testimony presented at trial and convicted Sager of manslaughter. Sager remained free on bond for a year while lawyers filed appeals on the mans behalf....a move that infuriated and divided the community.
After his appeals were heard and denied, Sager was sent to prison to serve his ten year sentence. He was released on parole after serving five years behind bars.
Sager has been charged with False Impersonation of a Law Enforcement Officer, which is a misdemeanor, and has bonded out of the Stone County jail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on that charge on July 14th.
Captain Tim Gideon of the Stone County Sheriffs office says that deputies are actively working with agents from the ATF to see if the allegations against Sager warrant any federal charges. Additional charges in Stone County are expected to be filed against Sager on Friday.
An order of protection was filed against Sager (06-23-09) in Greene County today by a Greene County woman who says she is Sager's girlfriend. According to court documents, the woman filed the request when she learned of the allegations against Sager. That request was denied because the woman alleges incidents happened in Stone County therefore Greene County does not have jurisdiction in the complaint.
News Release from the Stone County Sheriff's Department:
In the early months of 2009 an individual known as "Maverick" befriended several law enforcement officials in Stone County.
"Maverick" lives on a boat at the Indian Point Marina and openly spoke about his past as a retired A.T.F. agent throughout the community.
"Maverick" had a retired police vehicle that he outfitted with lights, sirens and two way radio communications. He explained that although retired, he kept his car ready to assist where needed, and carried a firearm as protection from people he had dealt with in the past. He would also walk around the marina with an exposed weapon, handcuffs, pager, phone and a spare magazine on his belt.
"Maverick" would "back up" law enforcement officers on different occasions by arriving on scene of a traffic stop or a call for service. As Stone County Deputies interacted with "Maverick" more frequently, they became suspicious and ran a criminal background check.
"Maverick" was identified as Mark Sager from the Platte County Area in Northern Kansas City. A criminal records check revealed that Mark Sager was arrested for Capital Murder in 1977 and was convicted of Manslaughter for the murder of a 14 year old girl when he was 17 years of age.
Mark Sager, white male 48 years of age, was arrested on June 22, 2009 at the Indian Point Marina. At the time of arrest he was wearing a makeshift duty belt as described earlier. It was determined that the weapon was an Airsoft Glock Pistol.
Mark Sager has been charged with False Impersonation of a Law Enforcement Officer, a Class A Misdemeanor, and his bond has been set at $5,000 cash or surety.
The investigation continues.
14 comments:
The 14 year old girl he killed was Julie Wittmeyer from Platte City. He was waiting for her when she got off the school bus. He brutely raped and murdered her. Unfortunately the attorney assigned to the Wittmeyer family was substandard. Sager got off with manslaughter and did not spend as much time in prison as he should have. I hope they lock him up for a long time over this. No telling what he has done in the past 31 years that he got away with. Psychologists at the time said he would kill again.
You can read the details of the murder at http://mo.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.%5CMO%5CMO2%5C1980%5C19800505_0023.MO.htm/qx
This man changed the lives of everyone living in what was then a very small, close knit community in Platte City. It is horrifying that is walking the streets after what he did. His parents should be ashamed for covering up for him.
Sager definately was guilty of a brutal murder in 1977 of Julie Wittmeyer and his life has become a testimony to his fascination with power and lack of self responsibility. Hopefully the authorities are investigating him further now that they have the legal opportunity because who is to say what he's done in these last thirty years.
Mark Sager was innocent of the Platte County murder. Anyone who sat through the trial and listened objectively would know that he was wrongfully convicted. Hopefully someday the truth will come out about what really happened to Julie, but she was not murdered by Mark Sager. And no, I am not a family member or connected in any way to Mr. Sager. Just a citizen who watched the trial very carefully every day.
He was found guilty. I remember the night Julie was missing and all the pick up trucks lining 45 highway looking for her and then the arrest of Mark Sager. I believe his new charges show the danger he represents in our community and can't believe he stayed around clay and Platte counties all these years. Check out the Missouri court web page and see his addresses. Like others have stated, he will kill again!
THOSE WHO WERE NOT AT THE TRIAL SHOULD NOT SPEAK! THEY DON'T KNOW ALL THE FACTS,ONLY RUMORS.DID ANYONE PAY ATTENTION TO THE SERIAL KILLER IN SAINT JOE? HE LEFT BITE MARKS ON HIS VICTIM.HE WAS A PAROLEE AT LARGE AT THE TIME OF JULIE'S MURDER.HIS NAME WAS CHARLES RAY HATCHER. YOU CAN FIND INFO ABOUT HIM ON THE INTERNET.
My grandfather defended Mark Sager during the murder trial. He always maintained Mark was innocent and I believe him. I have read the entire trial transcript.
It is clear Mark had an alibi and was not capable, physically or mentally, or committing the crime.
The bite mark evidence, which was the ONLY evidence of any real concern presented by the prosecution was refuted by another expert, and it is worth noting that of the two prosecution 'experts' one later choked on his own vomit (he was an alcoholic) and the other later had his license to practice forensic odontology taken away permanently.
Does anyone know if he is still in jail or if he has made bail? The local residents of Kearney Missouri are worried because a Kearney address for a Mark E. Sager has come to their attention and I don't know if it is the same man.
Well as a life long resident of Kearney I'd like to again assure you that there is nothing to worry about even if Mark does return to Kearney.
I wish you and anyone you have talked to about this would get your facts straight before getting worried.
If anyone wants to know the facts, e-mail at rdbrown27@gmail.com and I will gladly give them to you.
I grew up in Platte City, Mo. and I attended school with Julie Wittmeyer and Mark Sager. I can assure you that Mark Sager should be considered an EXTREMLY DANGEROUS individual. If this man is in your community I would advise that you have him umder constant police scrutiny. I have followed this case from the time she was abducted and I assure you that he is guilty of the brutal kidnapping, rape, torture, and murder of Julie Wittmeyer. This man should have been put to death or locked up for life without parole. I encourage any law enforcement officers who might see this to take a very close look at this man as I consider him to be a the type of person who fits the criminal profile of a serial killer to a tee. The people who have posted to this board that he was not guilty and there was a lack of evidence have failed to tell you that his mother and father both destroyed as much evidence as they could. They have also failed to mention that even as a child his personality and behavior were bizarre. Before he was ever charged in the Julie Wittmeyer case he was torturing small animals and once took a live rabbit to school and tore it in half by pulling on it's hind legs while it was alive. He did this before a group of young girls. They also fail to tell you that he had asked Julie out on a date just a few days prior to her abduction. She declined. That is ultimately probably what caused him to target her.
Rest in peace Julie. I still love you and miss you.
I agree with you. I made some backgroundcheck to that person and I was surprise with the criminal records that he has made. I think he deserve for all the punishment that the US government that could give. After of what he did.
I knew this man and i always thought there was something suspicious about him but never really thought anything of it and when i heard what this sick individual did i didnt surprise me as much as it just mad me sick.
this man is a sick petifile peice of crap. he needs to trade his cop car for a monster truck then hire someone to run him over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this waste of skin needs to be put to some kind of perminent justice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
whata peice of crap!
I did not live in Platte County at the time of Julies death but I know and love the family. They are wonderful people and really should not have ever had to hear this mans name again or have him living in any proximity to them. I have a daughter here and I will admit it scares me that this man is free and able to be in my county! I have read all the court papers after being told about the man and he is guilty he took the life of a sweet girl because he couldnt have what he wanted. His parents are sorry excuses, the world is what it is today because of parents like that making excuses and trying to cover up what there children have done! This community will always rally around the whitmyer family and watch out for our children ALL OF THEM! its to bad they stopped outlaw justice in the old west because this man would never have the chance to hurt another person!
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