Naumann Trial Resumes; Jailhouse Snitch Says Naumann Told Him He Helped Kill The Former Prosecutor:

The forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy on David Masters says that the former prosecutor of Macon County died of lethal cocaine intoxication.

Dr. Keith Norton (a.) was the first witness on the stand today in the first-degree murder trial of Thomas Naumann. He testified that Masters had 2 to 42 times the lethal amount of cocaine in his system when he died. Norton told jurors that Masters had needle marks on his arms and hands, in addition to having bruises and abrasions on his knees, legs and head.

A man who Naumann met in prison and did a stint in rehab with was also called to the stand today. Christopher Hill (a.) testified that the night of March 2nd, 2005, he was at the home he, Naumann, Crystal Broyles and David Masters shared in Nixa when Naumann and Masters began arguing over rent money.

Hill and Bryoles (a.) had been lovers off and on during the winter of 2004-2005.

Hill told jurors that he met Masters while the former attorney was staying at the Extended Stay Hotel in Springfield and that Masters supplied cocaine to himself and several of his friends.

Hill said that about two weeks after he met Masters the payment on his room was due to be paid. It was then that Naumann asked him to move into his house in Nixa.

Everything seemed to be copacetic as long as Masters funded the round the clock drug use that was going on in the house on N. Main Street, however, things suddenly spiraled out of control once paranoid delusions set into the group from the constant partying.

Hill testified that Masters (b.) and Naumann during the fight over the money Masters told Naumann that he was moving out, but Naumann told Masters that he wasn't leaving until he got his money.

When the fight escalated, Hill said he left the house but returned later for more cocaine. Hill told jurors that when he returned Naumann asked him if he knew where Masters kept his pot, and he headed for the closet in Masters room.

Hill testified that when he opened the closet door in Masters room he saw Masters laying on his back, his arms bound in front of him, eyes fluttering.

Knowing that Masters was a Buddhist, Hill at first thought Masters might be meditating....but the sight startled him and he jumped back, at which point Crystal Broyles and her sister Brandy Storment started laughing at him.

“I said this ain’t right,” Hill testified. "I said I’m outta here. "

Hill said he left and returned several days later when Naumann called him to ask him to reconnect the power to the house because the electricity had been turned off. “We were back in the house and he said, 'well Dave’s gone,' Hill said. “I said, 'yeah, I imagine he is.' He said, "no, he’s gone.”

Brandy Storment, 27, who was charged with murder in Masters death was the states 11th witness. Storment has been in and out of jail several times in recent years, and had charges in Masters death dropped against her in exchange for her testimony in this case and the one against her sister.

Storment told jurors that when the fight between her sister, Naumann and Masters got heated Naumann told her he thought she should leave. She said she went to her mothers house in Springfield to get some cigarettes and when she returned Masters was sitting in a chair in Naumann's bedroom, his arms bound with black zip ties.

Masters got up from the chair at some point walked forward then backed up, knocking over a glass of Kool-Aid. She told the jury that act enraged Thomas Naumann who said, "I'm going to kill him."

Storment says after a bit she and her sister went into the bathroom to shoot up cocaine and that she did not see Masters again until Christopher Hill opened the closet door.

Masters body was found dumped along the James River northwest of Nixa in March of 2005 with a black zip tie wrapped around his left wrist.

A jailhouse snitch who shared a Christian County jail cell with Naumann for three months in 2006 told jurors that Naumann was mad that Masters was going to fund a methamphetamine manufacturing operation for Broyles and Hill.

David Craig (a.) told jurors, "he asked me why I was locked up, and then I asked what he was in for," Craig said. "He told me he was in for the murder of a prosecutin' attorney." He told me this girl, Crystal, injected him with a lethal dose of cocaine, and he was holding his arm down.”

Naumann’s attorney, Dean Price, painted Craig as career criminal who was always looking for a, “better deal” and repeatedly worked for county and federal law enforcers in search of the best deal.

"In your deposition on March 5, 2008, you said, ‘I asked for some leniency,’ didn’t you?" Price asked. "Yes, sir," Craig answered. "That’s what I asked for."

Price asked Craig, "Isn’t it taboo to snitch?”......."You bet," Craig answered. "But, I did what I thought was right."

In 2006, Crystal Broyles pleaded out to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Prosecutors are expected to wrap up their case tomorrow.

***Craig image Christian County Headliner

UPDATED: Church Family Closing Heritage Chrysler-Jeep And Ozark Dodge---Employees Say Yes--Co-Owner Says No:

The family of a man who was found shot to death inside one of their businesses has decided to close shop.

Heritage Chrysler-Jeep and Ozark Dodge will close effective tomorrow. The car dealerships were co-owned by Rufus Church. Church was found with a gunshot wound to the chest in the service bay area five weeks ago.

Ozark Police Chief Lyle Hodges said last week that his office is still investigating Church's death as a homicide but that they haven't ruled anything out. He says, "the public shouldn't be worried that there is a killer on the loose."

Investigators with the Highway Patrol and Ozark Police have sent several items off to the state crime lab to be tested. Hodges says that his office is waiting on lab results to come back, and that it could take another month before there available.

KSPR is reporting that they received a fax from Ozark Dodge that said, "both dealerships will remain open indefinitely while management continues to evaluate the restructuring possibilities of the companies."

According to the press release Kay Church, Rufus Church's wife said that downsizing was necessitated by a multitude of factors, including the recent death of her husband.

Kay Church says that an added factor is, "the current economic recession, delays by the federal government in implementing an economic stimulus plan for American auto manufacturers, and a general uncertainty in the auto industry as additional considerations which caused today's decision to reduce the respective work forces of the two auto dealerships."

Employees that I talked with at both dealerships today say that the businesses are scheduled to close tomorrow and that the service departments are no longer accepting appointments.

****image Christian County Headliner

Naumann Trial On Hold; Lead Attorney Sick:

Testimony will resume tomorrow morning in the first-degree murder trial of a Nixa man.

Thomas Naumann's (a.) lead defense attorney, Dean Price (b,) told Judge John Moody that doctors advised him to take the day off because of an intestinal virus.

Prosecutors say that Naumann helped his girlfriend, Crystal Broyles, kill former Macon County Prosecutor David Allen Masters (b.) by injecting Masters with a massive dose of cocaine in March 2005 because he was late with rent and making sexual advances on Broyles.

Broyles pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 2006 and was sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Testimony Underway In Murder Of Former Macon County Prosecutor:

Testimony began today in the first-degree murder trial of a Nixa man accused of killing his roommate four years ago.

Christian County Prosecutor Ron Cleek says that Thomas Naumann (a.) helped Crystal Broyles administer a lethal dose of cocaine to David Allen Masters because the man was behind in rent and was allegedly making sexual advances towards Broyles.

Naumann's attorney, Dean Price (a.,) says that it was Broyles who tied Masters up to a chair with zip ties and administered the "hot shot" that killed the former attorney, and that his client was in the living room when she did it.

Masters (a.), a father of seven and the former prosecutor of Macon County, literally went from living in Wardell Mansion to begging for his life in a rat infested house a few hundred miles from where he was sworn to uphold the law.

Wardell Mansion (above)

Gov. John Ashcroft appointed Masters as prosecutor of Macon County in 1990. In 1998, after two terms as prosecutor, Masters lost his bid for re-election and returned to private practice.

In the fall of 2003, a former client of Masters torched his office, his wife filed for divorce (that the couple didn't go through with) and the historic house that the family lived in became a money pit. That is when family and friends say his life descended into a drug nightmare. Several former clients of Masters say that he took their money and never provided legal services for them.

Masters made break for a fresh start in southwest Missouri. He ended up at an Extended Stay Hotel in Springfield where prosecutors say he met Naumann while he was dealing drugs out of his hotel room.

Cleek (a.) is being assisted by his chief assistant, Donovan Dobbs, who called seven witnesses to the stand for the state today.

The first witness called to the stand was James Hildenbrand. Hildenbrand testified that he and his son's went to go check on the progress of some property that was being developed near their home on Nelson Mill Road abut 5 p.m. on March 3, 2005.

Hildenbrand told the jury that he was about halfway down a red dirt road that ran along the James River when he drove upon what he first thought was a "mannequin" with a rope tied around it's neck surrounded by crushed beer cans and a windshield wiper arm.

Hilderbrand said that he got out of his truck and tugged on the rope and then realized that it was a human body. Not wanting his boys to see the gruesome discovery he backed out and told his wife to call 911.

Former Christian County Sheriff's deputy Brian Hicks was the states second witness. He was the first officer on the scene and told jurors that he could clearly see a deceased person and called for back-up.

Hicks recounted for jurors a scene that took place about three weeks before Masters was found dead in which he was called to a water rescue at Wilson's Low Water Bridge.

A red Dodge Dakota was stuck in the water, and after water rescue plucked a man from the water he was asked to identify himself. Hicks testified that he knew the man had lied about his identity when dispatchers relayed that descriptors for the name belonged to a man that was 6' 3" and 280 pounds----clearly not the man in the back of the ambulance. When asked again, the man identified himself as Thomas Naumann.

Retired Highway Patrol investigator Miles Parks was next on the stand. He testified that he found the body of a white man partially inside a black sleeping bag with the legs and feet hanging out of it.....a black zip tie still attached to his left wrist.

Parks says that it was apparent that the body had been dumped as there were no footprints anywhere in the mud that surround Masters body.

The fourth witness in the states case was Highway Patrol investigator Rob Vaughn who was present at the autopsy of Masters. Autopsy pictures entered into evidence during Vaughn's testimony showed that Masters body was wrapped in several black straps with a white nylon rope running through the middle of them.

Detective Terry Owen testified that he helped develop a list of suspects then conducted surveillance on a house on N. Main in Nixa while cops waited for a search warrant. Owen said there was a Dodge Dakota with beer cans in the bed of the pickup in the driveway and that when someone went outside to smoke a woman arrived in a red car.

Owen said that he believed the wiper arm found near the body was crucial evidence and went to several car dealerships in an attempt to find out what kind of vehicle it belonged too. He found out when he reached a Dodge dealership.....a Dodge Dakota.

Masters first cousin, William Jamieson, was called by Dobbs to identify photos of Masters surrounded by his family and one of the man he loved in death.

The state's last witness for the day was Christian County Sheriff's Detective Annette Ramsey. Ramsey identified several pieces of evidence collected from the crime scene that belonged to Masters; a drivers license and torn duct tape in a garbage bag, several credit cards, a checkbook, a wallet some insulin and some including a credit card discovered in a pair of jeans.

She also identified a length of rope, a piece of duct tape found in the back of a 1988 Dodge Dakota parked in the driveway of the N. Main residence as being similar to the one found tied around Masters’ body.

On cross examination Price asked Ramsey if it appeared that the back window of the truck had been repaired with duct tape. Ramsey replied, "it does."

Prosecutors say they will call several witnesses to the stand that have a checkered past. They include a former cellmate of Naumann's, David Craig.

During Cleek's opening statement today he told jurors that Craig will testify that Naumann described Masters death to the jailhouse snitch in detail. Price told jurors not to make up their minds to quickly about Craig's because he has made several deal with prosecutors in exchange for testimony in different counties--including Cleek.

In the defenses opening statement Price told jurors that Craig lied while under oath in pretrial depositions when asked if he'd ever helped law enforcers before. Price said that Craig, "Mr. Craig is someone who has made a 20-year career out of exchanging testimony for leniency, and that it worked again.”

Broyles (a.), who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for her role in Naumann's death in 2006, has invoked her fifth amendment rights and will not testify at Naumann's trial. She is serving 13 years in prison at .


***court images courtesy Christian County Headliner

~~UPDATED~~Elementary School Principal To Be Arraigned On Drunk Driving Charges:

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The principal of Espy Elementary in Nixa has been charged with misdemeanor driving while intoxicated.

Highway Patrol troopers pulled Dr. Jerrod Wheeler over on August 30th of last year because he was allegedly recklessly driving his Chevy Tahoe southbound on 65 near the James River Expressway. Wheeler was also charged with failing to drive within a single lane on a roadway that has three or more lanes.

Nixa Schools Superintendent, Dr. Stephen Kleinsmith, said the district and school board members were informed of the alleged incident not long after it happened.

Kleinsmith says that  they are waiting for the legal process to be complete before they take any action.

Wheeler is scheduled to be arraigned in Greene County on May 26th.

UPDATE 11-19-10:

Dr. Wheeler pleaded guilty to drunk driving and was placed on two years supervised probation and fined $400.

He has started a SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) chapter at the school where he is presently employed.

Life In Prison For Lebanon Woman Convicted In The Beating Death Of Lebanon Teen:

A Lebanon woman who was convicted of killing Zach Jones in a Lebanon park has been sentenced to life in prison.

A jury convicted, Kimberly Dunkin, 37, in February of first-degree murder, armed criminal action and first-degree assault for her part in the baseball bat beating death of Jones and the assault of Matthew Bankston in Atchley Park in June of 2007.

However the judge in the case today said that Dunkin's brother-in-law, who was her co-conspirator in the cas,e was offered a deal to plead to second-degree murder with the chance for parole. His thinking.....she should get the same deal!

In essence, he overturned the jury's conviction and sentencing recommendation and issued his own guidelines. As part of the deal in the second-degree murder sentence, Dunkin waived all appeals.

In addition to the two life sentences (which will be served concurrently) the judge also sentenced her to twin 50-year sentences for armed criminal action.

Jerry Broyles pleaded guilty to killing Jones and injuring Bankston shortly before his trial was to begin last November and was given four life sentences (life in the state of Missouri is thirty years). Those sentences will run concurrent to each other.

Dunkin's husband, Terry, hanged himself in the LaClede County jail shortly after being charged with Jones' murder.

Dunkins son, Nathan Gibbs, who was fifteen (now 16) at the time of Jones death and Bankston's beating was charged with first degree murder and felony assault in the case. No trial date has been set in his case.

First Degree Murder Trial In Former Macon County Prosecutors Death To Begin Next Week:

Christian County Prosecutor Ron Cleek (a.)says that the first-degree murder trial of a Nixa man will start next Monday.

In March of 2005, the former prosecutor of Macon County, MO, David Allen Masters, was found bound and dead near the James River northwest of Nixa.

It is alleged that Thomas Naumann (b.) and Crystal Broyles (a.) , both of whom lived with Masters in Nixa, beat the man and shot him up with a lethal dose of cocaine because he was behind on his rent and was making sexual advances on Broyles.



Investigators believe that Naumann and Broyles tied Masters to a chair with plastic zip ties and over a two-day period, threatened him with a loaded gun and injected him with 40 times the lethal dose of cocaine.

At one point investigators allege that the duo drove Masters to a convenience store so that he could make a phone call in an attempt to get money to pay them....when that didn't work, they say Broyles slapped Masters and the pair took him back to their house where the torture of Masters continued.

At some point during Masters being threatened with his life he allegedly told Broyles and Naumann that he would rather die from an overdose than a gunshot wound.

A family that went to the river on March 3rd discovered Masters body sticking out of a sleeping bag close to a bridge near Nelson Mill Road--- that's about halfway between Nixa and Republic.

Broyles' sister, Brandi Storment of Bolivar, was charged with first-degree murder, however, Cleek later dropped the charge against Storment when she agreed to help prosecutors in their cases against her sister and Naumann.

In October 2006, Broyles accepted a plea deal while her trial was underway, and her charge was reduced to second-degree murder. She was sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Earlier this month Cleek took the death penalty off the table and offered Masters' attorney the same deal as Broyles. They refused the offer.

Jury selection is to begin at 9 a.m. Monday at the Christian County Courthouse in Ozark.

truTV (formerly Court TV) is expected in town to cover the trial.


https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/cases/searchCases.do
05N8-CR00476-01 - ST VS THOMAS NAUMANN

05N8-CR00477-01 - ST VS CRYSTAL BROYLES

Police Still Waiting On Lab Results In Church's Death:

It was one month ago that an employee reporting to work early in the morning at Ozark Dodge discovered the body of Rufus Church.

Church, was found with a gunshot wound to the chest in the service bay/garage area of the business he co-owned.....according to the search warrant, the weapon was found within the business.

Ozark Police chief Lyle Hodges says that his office is still waiting on test results to come back from the Missouri Highway Patrol Crime Lab. He says that wait could be as long as another month or six weeks.

The search warrant also says that investigators recovered broken glass inside the dealership. Detectives also collected blood, hair, guns, shell casings, cell phones, computers and other documents looking for leads in the case.

An insider close to the case says that, "it is very unlikely that the shotgun blast that killed Church was self-inflicted." That same insider notes that suspicious death investigations can turn on a dime.

Hodges says that his office continues to investigate Church's death as a homicide, but hasn't rule anything out.

Chief Hodges admits that it has taken a long time for him to issue any statements, but, he says that he wants to examine all the evidence and meet with Highway Patrol investigators before making a final ruling. He says, "it's not that I don't want too, it's that I just want to be sure what we have before I do."

***ozark dodge image christian county headliner

Lamborn Will Stand Trial For Little Girls Death:

A Texas County man will stand trial for the death of his stepdaughter last November.

A judge ruled at Daniel Dale Lamborn's preliminary hearing that the state presented enough evidence to proceed to trial.

Texas County authorities charged Lamborn on December 30, 2008, with child abuse resulting in death in connection with his 4 year-old stepdaughter, Camille Fayte Denis', November 22, 2008 death.

Lamborn told investigators that a large toy box had fallen on the little girl and crushed her......and when that evidence didn't pan out he changed his story multiple times before requesting an attorney.

Autopsy results show that Camille died from a tear to her heart.

Lamborn is scheduled to be arraigned in circuit court on May 5th.

Former Neosho Resident Part Of Alleged $40 Million Dollar Army Fuel Scam:

A former Newton County resident is allegedly part of a $40 million dollar Army fuel scam in Iraq.

A former U.S. Army captain and Department of Defense contractor, Lee William Dubois, was arrested in July when he landed at Washington Dulles International Airport as the mastermind in the fuel conspiracy and is now helping government investigators in a global search for his co-conspirators.

Dubois pleaded guilty to the scam in October and was expected to be sentenced last week, however, that sentencing was postponed.

Prosecutors want the man to receive the maximum prison term partly because he hasn’t handed over his take of close to a half million dollars in profits in the fuel scam.

Dubois earned $450,000 between December 2007 and May 2008 by stealing millions of gallons of jet fuel and nearly 7 million gallons of diesel from the Army then selling it on the Iraqi black market, he admitted in his October guilty plea.

His attorneys argue in court records that Dubois has worked tirelessly to get the money released, but that it is the fault of his Lebanon-based bank moving so slowly that they haven't received the cash.

While the feds wait for that money to be released, Dubois gave them information that led them to the Philippines, where they arrested former Neosho resident Robert John Jeffrey.

Jeffrey is accused of helping escort fuel trucks and was allegedly paid as much as $150,000 for each trip, Dubois told investigators.

The fuel was taken from Camp Liberty in Iraq. When Dubois started the scheme, he was working for Kuwait defense contractor Future Services General Trading.

He obtained that job in July 2007 from Elias Maalouf, who Dubois met while he was approving contracts for the U.S. Army in 2005, Dubois admitted.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Maalouf who, according to court documents, helped Dubois put the scam in motion after hiring him.

Court document allege that Dubois used his extensive knowledge of governmental procedures to create false documents so he and several co-conspirators could enter Camp Liberty and steal the fuel. They say Dubois lied to officials at the base, telling them he was acquiring the fuel for Future Services.

Robert Jeffery was arrested, but released on bail after his mother put up her Neosho home as collateral for his bond.

Although Jeffrey's attorney says he will not enter a plea agreement, Jeffrey and the federal government have agreed that either a plea will be submitted by this Monday (04-28-09) or he will be indicted.

Griggs Released On Own Recognizance Following Detention Hearing:

The last person remaining in jail for allegedly bilking the City of Nixa out of a million dollars has been released on his own recognizance.

David Griggs was charged in a federal criminal complaint last week by U. S. Attorney For The Western District of Missouri, Matt J. Whitworth.

Griggs was released following his detention hearing in federal court in Springfield on Monday, said Don Ledford, public affairs officer for Whitworth's office.

Ledford said the next step in the federal process is that a grand jury, "will hear evidence in the case and could return with an indictment with the same or similar charges filed in the criminal complaint. He added, "that could include the same or additional co-defendants."

Griggs was originally charged with felony stealing charges in Christian County in late February that alleged he and former Nixa street superintendent Larry Covington, along with Covington's wife, Paula, stole more than one million dollars in a purchase order scheme that included bogus companies the trio fraudulently began in 2004.

Christian County Prosecutor Ron Cleek dropped the state charges against Griggs on April 15 when the feds decided to take the case.

Griggs and his wife filed for bankruptcy protection in December stating that they were about $200,000 in debt from medical bills, student and home loans as well as credit card debt. The Griggses' said they only had about $450.00 in liquid assets, that included some vehicles and personal property.

In March, the trustee in charge of the Griggses' bankruptcy said that Griggs did not list assets from either of his bogus companies, Tri-State Supply or Airborne Specialists....therefore he withdrew a report filed in federal court that stated the couple didn't have the money to pay their creditors.

Criminal charges of stealing are still pending in Christian County against the Covingtons; a couple of civil suits have been filed against the couple as well.

The Covington's are currently out of jail on bond....Paula Covington was released after posting $10,000 bond--Larry Covington on $100,000 bond with special conditions set forth in the bond that include him wearing court-ordered GPS monitoring device.

As of noon today (04-22-09) Ledford said no federal complaints against the Covington's have been filed.

Change Of Venue Granted For Man Accused Of Toolbox Murder:

The trial of the man accused of killing his wife then placing her body in a toolbox full of concrete has been moved on a change of venue to Camden County.

Prosecutors say that Horst Gunter Sabla allegedly shot his wife Sharon in the bag of the head in August of 2008 then stuffed her body inside a black plastic box and kept it in the garage of the family home.

A few days later, Sabla told detectives he filled the box with lime and concrete. Authorities say Sabla kept his wife's body in the garage of the family home for several months before he eventually dumped it about six miles from the couples home.

Hunters found the plastic hinged toolbox on opening day of firearms deer season on November 15th, 2008 and smelled a foul odor emitting from the container and called 911.

A trial date for Horst Sabla, who is charged with first degree murder and armed criminal action, has not been scheduled.


https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/cases/searchCases.do
08LA-CR01681-02 - ST V HORST GUNTER SABLA

Acts II Pastor Sentenced On Sex Charges Related To Teen Parishioners:

The self appointed pastor of a small southwest Missouri church has been sentenced to two 15 year prison terms for molesting teen parishioners in his church.

50-year-old Randall "Danny" Russell of Neosho pleaded guilty to first-degree child molestation and sexual exploitation of a minor last month in a plea deal with prosecutors.

Three women testified against the Acts II preacher's preliminary hearing in June that Russell either raped, molested or sodomized them when they were minors.

One of them said that Russell told her the sex acts were to please God.

As part of the plea agreement prosecutors dropped 18 other sex related charges that Russell was facing.

Russell was sentenced to the two 15 year concurrent (at the same time) terms in McDonald County were the case was moved on a change of venue.

Lawrence County Investigators Gathering Evidence In Teenagers Shooting:

A teenager from Aurora who was shot last week in Lawrence County is still in the hospital recovering from his injuries according to Lawrence County Prosecutor Bob George.

The Lawrence County sheriff's department was dispatched to St. John's hospital in Aurora after 18 year-old David Cummings arrived at the health care facility with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Cummings, was allegedly shot at the home of a 17 year-old friend on Farm Road 2210 on April 15, 2009.

Cummings was airlifted in critical condition to St. John's in Springfield where he underwent surgery.

A male juvenile was taken into custody following the shooting and released.

Lawrence says, "investigators are still gathering evidence and updating the status of Mr. Cummings," adding, "we hope to have all the reports back and charges filed within the next couple of weeks."

Sentencing Date For Lance Shockley Rescheduled:

The sentencing date for a Carter County man found guilty of capital murder for the death of a Missouri Highway Patrol trooper has been rescheduled.

A jury found Lance Shockley guilty of gunning down Trooper Carl Dewayne Graham Jr., in March 2005 in the driveway of Graham's Van Buren home last month.

Shockley was scheduled to be sentenced on April 27th, but that date has been re-set for May 5th.

Council Member Ralph Manley Resigns From City Council:

The Springfield News Leader is reporting that Springfield City Councilman Ralph K. Manley will tender his resignation tonight, because he plans to move outside the city limits and because he failed to secure the vote from council for mayor pro tem.

Jason Wert at Life of Jason faithfully covers city council action, and at 7:05 tonight he blogged; 7:05pm…Mayor Pro Tem election. Councilman Rush nominates Councilman Manley. Councilman Bailes nominates Councilman Chiles. Councilman Stephens nominates Councilman Burlison. Mayor O’Neal closes nominations.
Votes: Burlison 3; Chiles 4; Manley 2. It requires five votes to get a Mayor Pro Tem.

Following tonight's city council meeting, Manley tossed his letter of resignation at newly elected mayor Jim O'Neal. After the meeting he told KY3 political reporter David Catanese that the mayor pro tem vote was, "an insult to someone of my honesty and integrity."

Manley, a World War II veteran and long-time Springfield real estate developer, has served on city council for the past 10 years, elected most recently in April 2007.

Four of those years were spent as mayor pro tem. Manley is a fixture at public events and ground-breaking's, where the 84-year-old is known for jumping in the air and handing out silver dollars.

Manley on Monday gave LOJ a copy of a letter he planned to give to newly-elected Mayor Jim O’Neal and fellow council members. In it, he said he was “grateful for the opportunity to have served this great city.”

City ordinance says that Mayor O'Neal will appoint Manley's replacement. However, that appointment will have to be approved by city council. Manley's current term runs until 2011.

TEXT OF MANLEY LETTER;

To Honorable Mayor Jim O’Neal and City Council:

I am reminded of D-Day 1944 in Europe for the decision to invade France for the victory to end WWII (of which I was a part.) General Eisenhower wrote two hand written notes. One was that our troops had successfully invaded France and established a firm beachhead. The other note was the invasion was a failure and he took full responsibility for that failure. That note was never used.

So it is with this note. I have failed to get a majority of support from this current Council so it is with regrets that after 10 years of dedicated service to the Springfield City Council I hereby submit my resignation.

I plan to leave for France in May. My wife of 58 years passed away one year ago. Things have changed. I will be moving outside the Springfield city limits when I return.

I have tried to dedicate all my energy and knowledge and time to this city without any pay or compensation. I am grateful for the opportunity to have served this great city.

My wife of 58 years passed away over a year ago and things in my life have changed.

I will be going to France for a couple of weeks to help celebrate their liberation rom Nazi Germany. When I return I will be moving outside the Springfield city limits and will not be eligible to serve on city council any longer.

Please accept my heartfelt thanks to all who allowed me to serve this city.

God bless you.

Ralph K. Manley

UPDATED: Hershey Scheduled To Appear In Court Friday For Death Of Girlfriends Son:

UPDATE AT BOTTOM:

An Ozark County man will learn his fate Friday for the murderof his girlfriends son.

Cops say Roger Hershey killed James Lee Johnson and wounded Delores Crain in a dipute over propety in 2008.

Roger Hershey (a.) is charged with first-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action, first-degree domestic assault causing serious physical injury, and first-degree assault.

The Missouri Attorney General's office is assisting in the case against Hershey. Prosecutors say that Hershey gunned down Johnson in his mother's home in Zanoni on March 26th, 2008, and then shot Crain.

Ozark County deputies responded to a call of a shooting and discovered Hershey sitting under a tree in the front yard of Crain's home with a 9mm in his hands.

Hershey allegedly told cops that they needed to go Crain's residence and check on his girlfriend because he had shot her. Hershey had threatened to kill himself and after a brief stand-off with Hershey, Sheriff Raymond Pace tasered Hershey and then placed him under arrest.

Officers found Crain lying outside the home, with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the chest. Crain told investigators that Hershey had shot her son inside the house.

When officers entered the home they discovered Johnson dead with multiple gunshot wounds.

UPDATE (04-24-09):

Hershey was sentenced to life in prison for Johnson's death and two 30 year sentences for armed criminal action, a fifteen year sentence for assault and another for armed criminal action.

Those sentences are to run concurrently (at the same time.)

Lebanon High School Students Death Under Investigation:

The weekend death of a high school student from Lebanon is under investigation by the LeClede County Sheriff's office.

Perry McClenahan, a junior at Lebanon High School, was found dead in his home on Saturday.

He and three friends were in the basement of the McClenahan family home Friday night. After Perry's parents had gone to bed upstairs they started playing video games and drinking beer and vodka.

Deputies with the LaClede County Sheriff's office were called to the home just outside of Lebanon on Saturday morning because the 16-year-old was unresponsive and cold to the touch. Investigators believe the boy had been dead for several hours.

An autopsy performed yesterday (04-19-09) by the Greene County Medical Examiner’s office found no signs of trauma on the boy's body, leading investigators to believe that the cause of death was probably caused by alcohol poisoning.

It will take several weeks for toxicology reports to come back before an official cause of death will be released.

Lebanon High School is providing counseling to students in the wake of McClenahan's death.

Funeral services for Perry McClenahan have been set for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Holman-Howe Funeral Home in Lebanon.

Detectives are continuing the investigation into McClenahan's death and are talking and taking statements from the friends who were at the party at McClenahan's home and those who knew what was going on.

The sheriff’s department say they have identified two people who allegedly supplied alcohol to the minors and it’s possible they could face charges, Sheriff Richard Wrinkle said.

The sheriff's department turned over video surveillance and receipts that shows two adults not related to Perry McClenahan buying booze for a group of minors.

Wrinkle says that his office will present their case to the prosecutors office who will determine what if any charges should be filed against whomever helped supply the teenagers with the alcohol.

UPDATED: LeClede County Attorney-- Married To Judge-- Charged With First Degree Sexual Mixconduct:

UPDATE AT BOTTOM:

A LeClede County attorney, who is married to an associate circuit judge, is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow on a misdemeanor charge of first-degree sexual misconduct.


Forty eight year-old Eric Hutson was charged last Tuesday (04-14-09) for an incident that allegedly happened at his law office in October of last year.

Hutson is the husband of Judge Christine Hutson (b.)



In court documents a detective writes that Hutson was the guardian ad litem for a minor child of a woman who was involved in a custody dispute and during a meeting in Hutson's office he allegedly touched her in an inappropriate manner and attempted to expose her breast and kiss her.

When the detective interviewed Hutson the attorney denied any sexual contact but said he patted her hand, hugged her and "might" have told her he thought she was attractive... and that her husband was an "idiot to leave you."
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Assistant Attorney General Ted Bruce has been brought in to represent the state as a special prosecutor.

Online court records indicated that Hutson's were divorced in 2004, but they have since remarried.
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UPDATE (04-20-09):
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Hutson was arraigned in court today and pleaded not guilty. His lawyer, S. Dean Price, requested a jury trial
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That trial is scheduled to get underway October 14th in Laclede County.
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UPDATE 08-04-12:

A Lebanon attorney who had been facing two counts of sexual misconduct will not be able to practice law in the state of Missouri for three years after he admitted to violating rules imposed by the states high court. to having affairs with an 18 year-old high school student and the mother of one of  his clients.
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The Missouri Supreme Court handed Eric Hutson a three-year suspension, which goes into effect immediately, following an agreement between Hutson and the Office of the Chief Disciplinary Council. In that agreement, Hutson admitted to sexual relationships with an 18 year-old high school student, and the mother of another client.-
The Supreme Court's ruling notes that Hutson violated Supreme Court Rules 4-1.7 (conflict of interest: current client) and 4-8.4 (misconduct).
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According to information The Lebanon Daily Record received from the Missouri Supreme Court's Communication Council Beth Riggert, Hutson may apply for reinstatement on July 30, 2015.  The petition will then be reviewed by the OCDC and any reinstatement would be subject to approval by the Supreme Court.
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Hutson was charged with two counts of sexual misconduct in 2009 after the women claimed the now 52-year-old attorney made inappropriate sexual contact or advances.
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According to the Missouri Attorney General Press Secretary Nanci Gonder, the criminal charges against him will be dismissed as a result of Hutson's agreement with the OCDC and the ruling of the Supreme Court.
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"With the full support and recommendation of the victims, an agreement was reached with defendant Eric Hutson to dismiss the two misdemeanor counts pending against him if he voluntarily surrendered his license to practice law," Gonder wrote in an email to The Daily Record.


https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/cases/searchCases.do
09LA-CR00445 - STATE V ERIC HUTSON

Divorce Case 2004:

25V05031806D - CHRISTINE H HUTSON V ERIC HUTSON

Dentist Enters Alford Plea In Hit And Run Accident:

A dentist from the Ozarks has entered an Alford plea for leaving the scene of an accident that left a Rockaway Beach woman with critical injuries.

A bench trial was scheduled for April 13th, but Dr. Wayne Allai entered the plea shortly before the trial was to begin.

Taney County Prosecutor Jeff Merrell says that Allai hit Cassie Trumble when she and two friends were attempting to cross Highway 76 in Branson about 1 a.m. on May 7, 2006.

Trumble was taken to Skaggs Community Heath Center in Branson, then was transferred to Cox Medical Center-South in Springfield with critical injuries.

Allai was also charged with leaving the scene of another accident in March of 2006.

After bonding out of jail, Allai was found unconscious in his car in the garage of his home with the motor running, and transported to Skaggs Health Center. After recovering from his suicide attempt the court granted Allai permission to leave the state to receive unspecified treatment.

Trumble filed a personal injury lawsuit against Allai in June of 2006, however that case was dismissed in April of 2008.

Allai is scheduled to be sentenced on June 18th.

Former Nixa Street Employee Now Facing Federal Charges:

We now know the reason that Christian County Prosecutor Ron Cleek dropped stealing charges against a former City of Nixa employee.

David Griggs, (a.) who worked in the street department in Nixa was charged in federal court yesterday in a sealed indictment alleging that he embezzled close to $10,000 from the city. That indictment was unsealed today.

The federal criminal complaint alleges that Griggs created a fictitious business named Airborne Specialist with the Missouri Secretary of States office to steal $9,858 from the city of Nixa on Nov. 10, 2005.

Griggs, who was employed in the city street department from Nov. 6, 2003, to Feb. 8, 2006, allegedly obtained funds by invoicing the city for goods that were never provided.

On Oct. 15, 2005, the city of Nixa approved a $9,858 purchase order from Airborne Specialists (a name that Griggs used interchangeably with his registered business name) for 6,200 pounds of Davies Ultra Melt snow and ice remover.

The feds say that product was never delivered to the city.

Former Nixa Street Supervisor Larry Covington (a.) and his wife Paula are still facing state charges related to the scheme that cost the city more than $750,000.

No word yet if the state charges against the Covington's will be dropped so that the feds can step in and charge the couple.

Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri Matt Whitworth said, “Today’s federal criminal complaint is part of an ongoing investigation,” adding, “We anticipate this case will be presented to a grand jury, therefore, we are not able to provide any further details about the investigation. Grand jury deliberations are confidential, which prevents our office from making any additional comments at this time.”

To read the federal charge against Griggs, click here.

To read an FBI agent's affidavit used as the basis of the charge, click here.

www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/index.html

Strafford Man Charged With Rape And Sodomy Of Little Girls

A Greene County man has been charged with sexually abusing three little girls over a period of several years.

Greene County prosecutors charged Leonard Cannafax, 55, of Strafford with two counts of statutory rape and four counts of statutory sodomy.

The Greene County Sheriff’s Department began its investigation into Cannafax four months ago. Prosecutors allege that Cannafax raped and sodomised the three girls, who are related, over an eight year period in various locations within Greene County.

The investigation is ongoing and a news release says that additional charges are pending

Cannafax is being held in the Greene County jail on Thursday in lieu of a $275,000 bond.

Still No Leads In Rufus Church Death:

The Ozark Police Department says that they are awaiting lab results from The Missouri Crime Lab in the death of Ozark Dodge co-owner Rufus Church.

Church was found dead in a service bay by a coworker about 6:30 a.m.with a gunshot wound to the chest on March 23rd.

Ozark police chief Lyle Hodges says," the case is ongoing and they have not ruled out if it was a suicide or homicide," adding "that the public shouldn't be worried that there is a killer on the loose."

Hodges says that a meeting with investigators with The Missouri Highway Patrol is in the works so that the agencies can compare notes in Church's death.

Alleged Killer Released From Greene County Jail Because Of Death Threats:

A Springfield woman charged with murdering her elderly stepfather is out of jail because of death threats within the Greene County jail.

Alexandrea McNeeley was released from jail and will have to wear an ankle bracelet and will be under house arrest.

Prosecutors say that McNeeley and five other people conspired to kill Stephen Rash last December.

I have a couple of questions, like, why couldn't they place her in a single cell or transfer her to another jail.

Look, I have the utmost respect for our law enforces, I know they are underpaid and the jail is understaffed and overloaded....but come on this isn't some petty crime!

So now an alleged killer is walking the streets of Springfield because her life is threatened......please!

Charges Dropped In Nixa Stealing Case:

Charges have been dropped against a former City of Nixa employee that was accused in a scheme that cost the city $750,000.

Christian County prosecutor Ron Cleek dismissed stealing charges against David Griggs today (04-15-09).

Court records say that Griggs allegedly set up bogus companies with Nixa Street Department supervisor Larry Covington to steal the money for goods that were not delivered to the city. Covington's wife, Paula, is charged with stealing in the scheme as well.

Christian County Prosecutor Ron Cleek won't say why he dismissed the charges, however, Griggs remains in jail on a probation.

There are a couple of scenarios that could have led to the dismissal of the charges.

• It's possible that the state charge could be replaced with a federal charge.


• Another possibility is that prosecutors agreed to drop the charge against Griggs in return for his testimony against the Covingtons.

According to online court records no federal charges against Griggs or the Covingtons have been filed.

Fairview Mother Charged With Smothering 3-month old:

A woman from Fairview has been charged with murdering her little boy last month.

Amy A. Tunnell, 21, is charged with first-degree murder and is in the Newton County Jail on a $250,000 bond.

Tunnell called the Newton County Sheriff’s Department on the morning of March 1,2009, to report 3-month-old Zane R. Tunnell was not breathing.

An autopsy found the little boy was smothered to death.
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UPDATE:

The charges against Amy Tunnell were dismissed by the prosecutor.


https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/cases/searchCases.do
09NW-CR00619 - ST V AMY A TUNNELL

Willard Babysitter Pleads Not Guilty In Infants Death

The Willard woman accused of allegedly killing Lucas Payton Theede-Bennett in January was arraigned in circuit court today and entered a not guilty plea.

Brenda Jean Caringer, 54, was the babysitter of Lucas Payton Theede-Bennett and is charged with alternative counts of second-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death.

What that means is that if she is convicted, she will only be able to be found guilty on one of the charges.

Caringer called 911 shortly before 3 p.m. on Jan. 6 to report the child had fallen and hit his head. Detectives say that she changed her story multiple times.

An autopsy concluded that Lucas suffered a number of internal injuries to his head, including a skull fracture and retinal hemorrhages.

Caringer is due back in court on June 2, 2009.

Amanda Theede and Sean Bennett have filed a wrongful death suit against Caringer.

Lucas' mother, Amanda Theede has a blog about Lucuas here.

Cops Still Don't Know Who Bones Belong Too:

It's been two and a half months since the skeletal remains of a man were found by a couple of construction workers on I-44.

Major Phil Corcoran of the Greene County Sheriff's Office says, "we have sent the bones and skull to the University of North Texas for advanced mitochondrial DNA testing and it could be a couple more months before we have any answers." He added, "a possible family member of the man's has been swabbed for DNA comparison."

Cops believe that the tarp was used as a makeshift tent and that the remains could have been there for a couple of years.

An identification card was found near the body in January. The descriptors on the ID card belong to a white man in his 50's, and seem to match the human remains that were found.

The sheriff's office "will not confirm nor deny," that the ID belongs to a known sex offender.

Investigators believe the mans was killed when a tree limb fell on him.