Suspect In Rene Williams Disappearance/Murder Hangs Himself In Jail:

How long did Christopher Revak live a lie?

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It appears that murder suspect Christopher Revak took many secrets to the grave when he hanged himself Sunday in the Douglas County jail, and now family members of Rene Williams may never find out what happened to her.
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Rene Marie Williams is still missing

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Revak, from Ava, was arrested Saturday for the March 2007 disappearance of Rene Williams, of Mansfield who worked as a bartender at the Eagle's Lodge in Ava.

Revak had worked the for the last six years as a Taney County Ambulance EMT.  Today deputies from Douglas County went to the Taney County Ambulance district with a search warrant...apparently to look at personnel records and talk to friends of Revak's.

Investigators say they received a phone tip last Friday that led them to a farm outside of Douglas County and Revak. Revak's DNA was found at the Eagle's Lodge and he had been at the top of the list of suspects in Williams disappearance for some time, according to Douglas County Sheriff Chris Degase.
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Some clothing was found at a heavily overgrown farm where authorities have been digging -- property reportedly owned by Revak. No human remains have yet been located.
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Williams, a mother of three children, vanished after she closed up the Lodge on March 13th. Her disappearance was originally classified as missing and endangered, now authorities are calling it a homicide.

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PREVIOUSLY 07-27-09---

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New developments today in the disappearance of Rene Williams who went missing from the Eagles Lodge in Ava in March of 2007. After going back over old information about the case, and conducting a number of interviews, police arrested a suspect on Saturday.

But, now as Kathee Baird reports, that suspect, Christopher Revak of Ava, whose DNA was found at the crime scene and a former patron of the Eagles Lodge -- is now dead...

Revak hanged himself in the Douglas County jail yesterday.


Following tips, authorities began to search a field Friday night and Saturday morning for evidence. Douglas County Sheriff Chris Degase says that some clothing evidence was found in the field, but Williams' body has not been recovered.

Sheriff's deputies, the Highway Patrol, and divers took part in the search. The sheriff has not revealed the exact spot they were looking in only saying that it was outside of Douglas County.

The search for Williams remains continues, according to DeGase.

***Amy Page & Greg Brock contributed to this story

Blurton Returned To Missouri For Cole Camp Murders:

The man accused of murdering his relatives last month has been returned to Missouri after fighting extradition for about 3 weeks.

Robbert/Robbie Blurton is accused of gunning down his aunt and uncle, Sharon and Donnie Lutjen, and their daughter, 15 year-old Taron Luetjen back on June 7th.

He has entered a not guilty plea and is due back in court next week when it is expected that a preliminary hearing date in the case will be set.

Joplin Boy Dies Of Alcohol Poisoning After Uncle Allegedly Challenged Him To A Drinking Game:

An man who allegedly played a drinking game in his Joplin home with his girlfriend and an 11 year-old Tyler Fecko has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

The little boy died of alcohol poisoning after his 27 year-old uncle, Dale Phillips and his girlfriend, Linda Petrait, challenged him to a drinking game on Sunday night.

Petrait is facing the same charge. If convicted, Phillips and Petrait could be sentenced from anywhere from five to fifteen years in prison.

Murder Trial Of Nixa Woman Accused Of Killing Her Boyfriend Will Begin This Week:

Jury selection for a woman from Nixa accused of allegedly shooting her boyfriend to death in January 2008 is slated to Monday.

Kelly Sue Pardue told investigators that her boyfriend, Jon Sell, shot himself in the bedroom of the couples home on Texas Street in January of last year.

Kelly Sue Pardue is charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action for the death of Jon Sell.

In a probable cause statement, Christian County Detective Jon Huff wrote that Pardue gave several differing accounts as to what took place in the house that frigi od winter day.


Police had been dispatched to the Texas Street house multiple times on calls ranging from disturbances to alleged domestic violence in the past.

Investigators say that evidence at the crime scene didn't match up with what Pardue claimed happened. When confronted with the evidence, Pardue gave conflicting answers to several questions.

Pardue told Huff that Sell accidentally shot himself when he was cleaning his shotgun. Then she implied that Sell threw the shotgun after shooting himself; or that an intruder entered the house and shot the man.

Investigators say that Sell was crouching and stooping when he was shot and that it would have been impossible for Sell to shoot himself, either accidentally or on purpose.

As authorities kept digging for clues in the case it was revealed that Pardue was upset with Sell for taking her dog and dumping it with a bag of dog food in Taney County.

At one point Pardue implied that Sell threw the shotgun after supposedly shooting himself, or that an intruder entered the house and shot Sell.

Huff also wrote that it appears someone took a shower and washed away blood before cops arrived at the crime scene.

Police had been dispatched to the Texas Street house multiple times on calls ranging from disturbances to alleged domestic violence in the past an Pardue and an ex parte (order of prottection) against Sell when he died.


If Pardue is convicted Pardue could face up 30-years in prison for second-degree murder. If convicted of the armed criminal action charge that would mean that she would have to serve at least 80% of the sentence imposed before she would be eligible for parole.

Gerald Carnahan Murder Trial Delayed Until February 20-10:

The trial for a Nixa man accused of the murder and rape of a Christian County beauty queen in 1985 has been delayed until at least February.....and that date is subject to change.

Gerald Carnahan was scheduled to stand trial on July 27 for the murder of Jackie Johns of Nixa. After a motion hearing this afternoon (07-17-09) in St. Louis County, Circuit Judge Michael Jamison reset the trial for Feb. 16, 2010.

Jackie Johns (below)

Prosecutors say that the now 52 year-old Carnahan allegedly raped and murdered Jackie Johns on or about June 18, 1985. Johns', 20, was a part time waitress, and former homecoming queen. Her nude body was found four and a half days after her disappearance floating in Lake Springfield.

Witnesses claim to have seen Carnahan sitting in his truck behind the 7-11 in Nixa where the young woman was last seen alive. Carnahan admitted that he knew Johns, having once employed her, but told cops he was with his stepdaughter the night of Johns murder.

Dee Wampler (below)

Gerald Carnahan was always the chief suspect in Johns' homicide, but it wasn't until October of 2006, when Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper, Sgt.Daniel Nash, had "some time on his hands," and asked if he could look into cold cases.

The trooper received the go ahead and obtained a DNA profile in March 2007 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 and asked for a warrant to obtain a DNA sample from Gerald Carnahan as there was no DNA profile either in CODIS, OR AFIS, for the man. The judge issued a warrant for a sample of Carnahan's DNA. Within twenty four hours of the buccal swab from the cheek of Carnahan there was a match between Carnahan's DNA profile and the vaginal swab that had so prudently been cared for by officers for twenty-two years.

Carnahan has been in lockup since being charged in August 2007 having been denied bond.
Defense attorney Dee Wampler says, " DNA testing and taking depositions in the case are the reason for the postponement." Greene County Prosecutor Darrell Moore did not oppose the postponement.

Darrell Moore (below)

The case has been moved on a change of venue to St. Louis County because of intense media coverage of the case and to impanel an impartial jury.

Springfield Man Charged With Sex Crime Of Little Boy:

A 26 year-old Springfield man has been charged with forcible sodomy and kidnapping for an incident that allegedly happened on July 15th.

Prosecutors say that Michael Wayne Crites lured a ten year-old boy who had been playing with friends near a creek to a wooded area at Hillcrest and Meadomere where he sexually assaulted the boy.

Springfield police Sgt. Kevin Routh says the area is a popular spot for swimming for kids and some of them told investigators they had seen Crites lurking there in the past. The victim was taken to a Springfield hospital and treated and released.


Crites was arrested at his home this morning, and is being held in the Greene County Jail on no bond.

Two Juveniles Held In Taney County Crime Spree:

Two pre-teen boys are in the custody of Taney County juvenile authorities in connection with a vandalism spree for allegedly slashing fifty-three tires in the Spring Meadows subdivision on. The damage estimates are in the thousands of dollars.

One of the boys lived in the subdivision, the other is from Bull Creek The Taney County Sheriff's started an investigation after residents of the Spring Meadows subdivision on Mo. 76 east of Branson woke up to find their tires slashed, and one resident had her trampoline slashed.

The boys also are being questioned about two burglaries that took place in a nearby building.

UPDATED: Vernon County Authorities That Were Investigating "Suspicious Death" ---Turns Into Homicide Investigation; :

Sheriff Ron Peckman (above)

Authorities in Vernon County and investigators with the Missouri State Highway Patrol began investigating the "suspicious death" of a woman north of Deerfield this morning. Now that has investigation has turned into a homicide investigation.

Vernon County Sheriff Ron Peckman says, "a friend of Belinda Jean Beisly, 47, called our office to check the well being of the woman yesterday (07-15-09) after she hadn't shown up for work at 3M, or called in sick. Peckman said deputies went to her home on Route H about 4:15 p.m. and found her dead."

Peckman won't comment on if there were any signs of a struggle in the house saying, "were holding to ourselves so that we can finish up some interviews." Peckman adds that he won't comment on any suspect/s until we get more information."

Vernon County coroner, David Ferry, says an autopsy "showed Mrs. Beisly died, "of multiple gunshot wounds."

Peckman says that investigators are interviewing "several persons of interets "that had contact with Beisly in the days leading up to her death.

Belinda Beisly was separated from her husband, Bob Beisly, and living with her son at the time of her murder. Friends say the family owns Rockin' B Ranch North of Deerfield, and her estranged husband runs Beisly Oil in Nevada.

It's Official...Patterson Wants Job Promotion:

The rumors are true, Dan Patterson made an official announcement today that he wants a job promotion. Patterson is seeking the Republican nomination to be Greene County's next prosecutor.

Patterson started work in the prosecutors office in April of 1996. He worked sexual assault and child abuse cases as he worked his way up to being named Chief Assistant Prosecutor in 2003.

As chief assistant, Patterson is in charge of the daily operations at the prosecutors office. He also sits first or second chair in major crime cases like murder and assault.

Patterson is a major in the Missouri Army National Guard, and recently returned from serving a nine-month stint in Kosovo. He is married to Jill Geary Patterson, who is also an attorney in the Greene County Prosecutors office; they have two little girls. Patterson also has a son from a previous marriage.

Darrell Moore is not seeking re-election because he hopes to garner the Republican nomination for the 7th Congressional District seat that will be vacated by Roy Blunt in 20-10.

HAPPENING NOW: Nixa Firefighter Charged With Child Molestation; Prosecutor Says More Charges Coming

Christian County Prosecutor Ron Cleek has filed first-degree child molestation charges against a Nixa firefighter.

Cleek says that Captain Michael "Keith" Benson, 40, allegedly molested a 7-year-old little girl during a March 2008 birthday party for one of his step-children, but didn't tell her parents until last month. Cleek says that he, "expects to file additional charges in the case but can't comment on them because they haven't been filed yet."

Court documents say that the little girl who is a friend of Benson’s stepdaughter said he pulled her pants down with one hand and rubbed her bottom with the other.

The victim told investigators that she, "was scared to tell my parents because they like him and I didn’t think my parents would believe me.”

The probable cause statement alleges that Benson of exposed the victim, now 8 years old, to deviate sexual contact. He is being held in the Christian County jail on $50,000 bond.

Nixa Fire Protection Assistant fire chief Brian Newberry says that the fire protection district has no comment on Benson's employment as they just learned of his arrest.

The range of punishment for the child molestation charge is five to fifteen years in prison.

Press Release 07-17-09
Nixa Fire Protection District301 South Nicholas Rd <> Nixa, MO 65714Emergency 911 <> Business (417) 725-4025 <> Facsimile (417) 725-2393-

MEDIA STATEMENT

Nixa, Missouri, July 17, 2009 The Nixa Fire Protection District was informed on June 17, 2009, of an investigation involving an employee, Michael Keith Benson. Mr. Benson was immediately placed on leave from the District. To our knowledge the accusations do not involve the Fire District in any way. As of July 16, 2009, Michael Keith Benson is no longer employed by or associated with the Nixa Fire Protection District.

Nixa Man Charged With Murder In Girlfriends OD Death:

A Christian County man already doing time in prison has been charged with second- degree murder in connection with the April overdose death of his girlfriend.

When twenty-year old Bret Turner of Nixa was arrested he was originally charged with distribution of a controlled substance in sixteen year-old Amanda Adkins' death. But prosecutors allege that he stole his mom's prescription morphine and gave it to Adkins. Final toxicology results show that Adkins died of an overdose of morphine, but had other drugs in her system as well.

Authorities found Turner was in possession of vicodin that he didn't have a prescription for at the of Adkins' death. He pleaded guilty last month to an amended charge of drug possession, without a plea agreement, and received a seven year prison sentence.

In addition to the murder charge, Turner has been charged with distribution of a controlled substance to a minor.

Turner was charged with unlawful use of a weapon last year and served 120 days shock time on that charge and received five years probation for drug possession charges in Greene County earlier this year.

Jones Sentenced To One Year In Jail For Girlfriends Death:

An Ozark man who was declared incompetent to stand trial twice waived his preliminary hearing and pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter on July 14.

Bobby Gene Jones, 23, has been incarcerated for 14 months for the 2008 overdose death of his girlfriend Kristina Lee Liles. Liles died from a lethal dose of Jones' prescription morphine at his Ozark residence on June 19, 2008.

Detective Brad Cole writes in the probable cause statement that Jones doesn't recall providing Liles with his morphine and/or helping administer the drug to her because he had shot up himself that night.
At one point, Jones told Cole that Liles told him that “the amount of morphine injected was too much; (and) that after knowing Kristina had overdosed he put her to bed at approximately 1:00 a.m., and did not attempt to get her any medical attention. Jones went on to say that when he awoke at 6:00 a.m. his girlfriend was not breathing.

A plea deal was made between the Christian County prosecutors office and Jones' attorney, Charlton Chastain, that Jones serve one year in the county jail for Liles' death. Christian County Circuit Judge Mark Orr gave him credit for the 14 months that Jones has been in custody and released him.

Three People Injured In Meth Lab Explosion In Shell Knob

Emergency responders in Stone County were called to a meth lab explosion at Shell Knob residence about 1:40 a.m. on July 11th, 2009.

As Central Crossings Fire responded to the scene, a second caller reported that an individual who was burned with chemical burns came to a neighboring residence to report the fire. Based upon that information, Stone County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched along with the Fire Department to that location for a possible fire involving a methamphetamine laboratory.

When Deputies and Fire Department personnel arrived, they smelled a chemical odor in the air which they recognized as being one utilized in the making of methamphetamine. The COMET Drug Task Force was then notified to assist in the investigation and dismantling of the remains of what turned out to be a methamphetamine manufacturing lab at the fire and explosion damaged residence.

Three individuals were identified as being present at the involved residence. One, a 46 yr old male from Shell Knob was taken to St. John's Burn Unit that morning for treatment of the burns he sustained in the explosion. Another, a 40 yr old male from Shell Knob was taken to St. John's Burn Unit on Monday, July 13, 2009, also for treatment of the burns he sustained in the fire. The third individual was a 44 yr old female from Shell Knob who was not injured.

This is the second of two methamphetamine labs that have been located in Stone County within the last month. The first was located in Branson West on June 22.

Arkansas Inmate Suing Several Law Officers In Federal Court

A prior and persistant offender who led officers from several jurisdications on a high speed chase that crossed over two state lines and was eventually stopped with a "pit maneuver" in Branson has filed a federal lawsuit in Harrison, Arkansas.

The Harrison Daily Times says 56-year-old Terry Gale Plunk, who is now incarcerated at The Cummins Prison, is suing nine Harrison and Boone County officers, eight Missouri and Branson officers, and two Arkansas state troopers, alleging he was "kicked and stomped numerous times," on April 24, 2006.

Plunk, who is working as his on attorney, alleges in court documents that eleven officers either participated or watched, while the others law enforcers were sued for not overseeing them properly and not trying to "remedy the wrong."

In April 2006, lawmen attempted to stop Plunk near Omaha on a drug warrant in Arkansas when Plunk veered toward a Boone County deputy who was deploying spike strips. Plunk made a U-Turn and drove back to Missouri where his car was rammed by a Missouri State Highway Patrol officer at Highway 76 and 6th Street in Branson. When cops searched his vehicle they found over a pound of methamphetamine in the car.

Plunk pleaded guilty to possession of meth with intent to deliver, aggravated assault, fleeing in a vehicle, three counts of criminal mischief, possession of drug paraphernalia, felon in possession of a firearm and possession of marijuana.

In August 2006, a confidential informant made a plea deal with prosecutors to set Plunk up in exchange for help so that his wife would not be charged in a criminal case. That deal was arranged to take place at the Tourist Information Center north of Harrison where undercover officers set up a sting operation to sell a half-pound of methamphetamine. Harrison police officer David Osborn and several other officers were also at the TIC.

During the sting operation, Osborn fired two shots into Plunk’s vehicle as he tried to flee. Authorities alleged that Plunk tried to run over Osborn, and Plunk was charged with attempted capital murder of a police officer.

A Harrison, AR, jury found Plunk guilty in July 2007 of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia but, they acquitted Plunk of the attempted murder charge.

Jurors were set to deliberate Plunk’s sentence in the during the guilty phase of the trial, however, they didn't get that chance because the prosecution and defense entered into a plea deal that allowed Plunk to plead guilty to all other charges against him in the pending case.

In the state's part of the deal, Plunk pleaded out as a habitual offender, which enhanced his prison sentence, and therfore waived his right to appeal the jury convictions. Plunk was sentenced to 72 years in prison for possession of meth with the intent intent to deliver and 10 years for possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was sentenced to almost 200 years in prison, but all sentences are to run concurrently with the 72-year sentence from the trial

Plunk is seeking $6.2 million from various defendant officers and agencies in his lawsuit in addition to $3.6 million to $6 million depending on how many officers allegedly participated and stood by.

*****Greg Brock contributed to this story

Raytown Man Convicted Of Multiple Sex Offenses On Step-Sons:

A jury in Lawrence County has found a Raytown man guilty of multiple sex offenses involving his step-sons,

It took that jury about an hour and forty minutes to find Sam Cobb Jr., 54, guilty of ten counts of statutory sodomy in the first degree.

Lawrence County Prosecutor Robert "Bob" George says that the victims began living with their mother Sharon Atkeson and Cobb, following the death of their father in 1995. One of the boys was removed from the house in November, 1997 for physical abuse. The second victim was removed from the home in January 1998.

In a news release George says, "this defendant and the victim’s mother prayed (sic) on these victims for over a year, using the young boys as sex objects. In addition to sexual abuse, the defendant struck the boys and at one time held a rifle to one of the boys head and pulled the trigger. After hearing the gun click Cobb said to the boy.. "See I can kill you that easily if you ever tell anyone."

George says that Cobb told one of the boys, "he had killed their father and he could the boys, their mother, and grandparents and get away with it.

One of the boys was removed from the house in November, 1997 for physical abuse. The second victim was removed in January 1998. They were placed in foster care for about a year before being placed with their paternal grandparents.

The brothers kept their secret until 2005 . It was then that authorities started investigating the youngest brother for sexually abusing a cousin of his. George says, "when they asked him why he was doing it, he told them that is what he was taught to do."

Sharon Atkeson (a.) was convicted in 2006 of twelve counts of statutory sodomy and two counts of incest for the sexual and physical abuse of her sons. She was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

"This was a very emotional case for the two victims. I hope with this conviction there will be some closure. The jury was very attentive and did an excellent job of considering all the facts before reaching their verdicts," George said.

Ssentencing is scheduled for September 4, 2009.

Delay In Carnahan Trial; Wampler, "I Don't See This Case Being Heard Before The End Of The Year":

The trial in a twenty-four year old murder case that was supposed to be heard at the end of the month has been postponed yet again.

Defense attorney Dee Wampler says that he and Greene County Prosecutor Darrell Moore will meet with Judge Michael Jamison next Thursday in St. Louis and come up with another trial date for Gerald Carnahan. Wampler says, " DNA testing and taking depositions in the case are the reason for the postponement."

Dee Wampler (above)

Prosecutors say that the now 52 year-old Carnahan allegedly raped and murdered Jackie Johns on or about June 18, 1985. Johns', 20, was a part time waitress, and former homecoming queen. Her nude body was found four and a half days after her disappearance floating in Lake Springfield.



Jackie Johns (above)

Witnesses claim to have seen Carnahan sitting in his truck behind a business in Nixa where the young woman was last seen alive. Carnahan admitted that he knew Johns, having once employed her, but told cops he had an alibi for that night.

He claimed to have been at a bar with his step daughter, Sara Collins, when the murder took place--and she backed him up at the time. 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.

Gerald Carnahan was always at the top of the list as far as suspects in Johns' homicide, but it wasn't until October of 2006, that 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 and asked for a warrant to obtain a DNA sample from Gerald Carnahan as there was no DNA profile either in CODIS, OR AFIS, for the man. The judge issued a warrant for a sample of Carnahan's DNA.

Within twenty four hours of the buccal swab from the cheek of Carnahan there was a match between Carnahan's DNA profile and the vaginal swab that had so prudently been cared for by officers for twenty-two years.

In the winter of 2008 and into the 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. Today (07-09-09) Wampler said, "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."

Darrell Moore (above)

Moore, who is running for 7th Congressional District seat, says he will keep his job as prosecutor while campaigning seeking help from staff inside his office, but will continue to be lead attorney in the Gerald Carnahan murder case.

In June of 2008 the case was moved to St. Louis County on a change of venue.

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, Sgt. Dan Nash, 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."

##

Feburary 2010-----Defense attorney Dee Wampler is diagnosed with kidney and prostate cancer. Carnahan's March trial date is postponed while Wampler undergoes surgery and treatment. New trial date of September 13, 2010 is set. Les John's, Jackie's father, says he doesn't believe the case will ever proceed to trial. John's says if it does, he doesn't believe he will live to see it happen.

Fringe Extremist With Ties To 2004 Arizona Bombing Held Without Bond:

A McDonald County man with ties to twin brothers, Dennis and Daniel Mahon, who are alleged to be white supremacists and have been charged in a racially motivated Arizona bombing will be held in jail without bond.

Robert Joos was arrested as part of an investigation into the 2004 mail bombing in Scottsdale, Ariz., that injured the director of a diversity office in Scottsdale. Prosecutors allege that the first call one of the Mahon brothers made before the bombing was to Joos.

ATF agents executed a search warrant on Joos' property June 24 and found bomb-making materials, according to documents filed in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.

"A confidential informant and two undercover ATF agents visited Joos at his McDonald County property on three occasions in January 2008 and in January and February 2009. During those visits, the affidavit says, they observed several firearms and ammunition." The affidavit says that Joos provided undercover ATF agents with instructions, including what soap to use, to make a homemade napalm.

U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge James C. England ordered Robert N. Joos be held on charges of being a felon in possession of firearms. England said in his ruling that a search of Joos' property in McDonald County found more than a dozen firearms, blasting caps, gunpowder and fuses.

Federal prosecutors allege that an undercover investigation found that people involved in the white supremacist movement in the U.S. got survival training at Joos' property.

In 1994 authorities in McDonald County raided the self-proclaimed preachers compound, The Sacerdotal Order of the David Company, and were stunned at what they found. Stockpiled inside the compound were weapons, ammunition and dynamite. Joos, claimed the weapons were meant for trading. Joos was release from prison in 1997.



***Joos compound raid image courtesy of Lucky Dog Blog

Chief Assistant Prosecutor Wants Top Cop Job In Greene County:

The Republican Party has announced that Dan Patterson will officially toss his hat into the ring and announce his candidacy for Greene County Prosecutor next Thursday at 9:30 a.m. on the steps of the historic old Courthouse.

Patterson started work in the prosecutors office in April of 1996. He worked sexual assault and child abuse cases as he worked his way up to be named Chief Assistant Prosecutor in 2003.

As chief assistant, Patterson is in charge of the daily operations of the prosecutors office. He also sits first or second chair in major crime cases like murder and assault.

Patterson is a major in the Missouri Army National Guard, and recently returned from serving a nine-month stint in Kosovo. He is married to Jill Geary Patterson, who is also an attorney in the Greene County Prosecutors office; they have two little girls. Patterson also has a son from a previous marriage.

Darrell Moore is not seeking re-election because he hopes to garner the Republican nomination for the 7th Congressional District seat that will be vacated by Roy Blunt in 20-10.

Suspects In Sheldon Murders Plead Not Guilty:

The suspected killers of Robert, 70, and Ellen Sheldon, 71, appeared before Judge Richard Copeland in Jasper County Associate Circuit Court this morning via video from the jail and were formally arraigned on murder charges for last falls slayings of the elderly couple.

Matthew D Laurin, 19, Springfield, and Darren Winans, 21, Jasper both pleaded not guilty to two counts each of first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and one count of burglary.

Authorities believe the Sheldons were stabbed multiple times when Laurin and Winans went to burglarize their home and business on N. Black Powder Lane in rural Carthage on October 11, 2008.

Their next scheduled court dates are July 22nd.

UPDATED W/Probable Cause: Two People Arrested In Sheldon Murders:

After almost nine months there has been an arrest in the murders of an elderly Carthage couple.

At a news conference held today in Jasper County it was announced that Matthew D. Laurin, 19, Springfield (& Nixa) and Darren J. Winans, 21, of Jasper, Missouri, were arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder for their alleged involvement in last falls murders of Robert and Ellen Sheldon.

Authorities say that Winans and Zachary S. Townsend had been to the Old Cabin Shop, a gun and archery store that the Sheldon's owned, in September of 2008 and that a gun was stolen from the shop during their visit.

Charges of stealing a firearm were filed against Townsend, 24, of Joplin, on October 22, 2008, and he was bound over for trial. That case is set to be heard on August 26th.

On July 1st, Winans was arrested and charged with stealing a firearm in connection to the September theft at the Old Cabin Shop.

Matthew Laurin (above)


Sheriff Dunn says that Winans and Laurin may have returned to the property because the Sheldon's, "were easy targets." Jasper County Detective Kevin Mitchell writes in the probable cause statement filed with the charges, that burglary of the Sheldon's business and residence was the alleged motive that led to the couples murders.



From all accounts it was Laurin's first time in Carthage. Sources say that Laurin had never been in Carthage before the night of the murders. He was arrested when deputies went to seize his vehicle yesterday (07-07-09) from his house on Stewart street. They believe it was Laurin's car that witnesses saw at the Sheldon's home on Saturday October 11th. Authorities say that Laurin confessed to the Sheldon murders and named Winans as his accomplice.

In addition to the murder charges, Laurin and Winans have each been charged with two counts of armed criminal action and one count of burglary.

Jasper County authorities say they received a tip about Laurin and Winans in December on a special TIPS line that had been set for the Sheldon murder investigation. They say they followed up on the tip at the time, but really didn't get anywhere with it because one of the men, "lawyered up." It wasn't until May, when Laurin and Winans names were again left on the TIPS line, that the puzzle pieces started to fit together for investigators.

On Monday (07-06-09) Sheriff Dunn said in a news release that authorities were looking for a "person of interest" in Springfield who may have vital information regarding the Shedon murders. Today Sheriff Dunn would only say that it was a ploy and would not comment on whether or not the ploy worked in Laurin's arrest last night.

Darren Winans (above)

Winans has a pretty extensive criminal history. Online court records show he was given 120 days shock time for stealing a car in March of 2006. In March of 2008, while still on probation for the stealing conviction, Winans was arrested on a felony drug charge. Winans pleaded guilty in the drug case, and was placed was on one year of unsupervised probation. In January of 2009 Winans was charged with driving without a license (he was revoked) and having no insurance---he was supposed to appear in Greene County on those charges today. In May of this year a full order of protection was granted to Winans ex-wife and child.

Laurin, who grew up in Chrisitan County and graduated from Nixa High School, has little criminal history....just a few traffic citations.

Before Sunday October 12, 2008, the biggest thing in Carthage Missouri was the Precious Moments Chapel. What was supposed to be a typical Sunday for the Sheldon family turned into a day that family members of Robert and Ellen Sheldon will never be able to forget.

Daniel Sheldon became concerned when his parents, Robert and Ellen Sheldon, didn't show up for church services so went to check on his folks. He thought that maybe one of them had become sick after attending a church function the night before. He never expected to find his mother lying in a pool of blood in the hallway of the family home...his father dead in another part of the house. He reportedly told a 911 operator that he believed his mother had been shot.

The 9-1-1 call that should have been recorded wasn't because of a glitch with the recording system at the Jasper County Sheriff's Department that day.

What officers found when they arrived at the crime scene sent a chill up the spines of investigators who thought they had seen it all. It was a bloody crime scene, and officers at first thought that Robert and Ellen Sheldon had been shot, the family dog was killed too. Soon the small town rumor mill was in full force, some people said that there were notes scrawled on the walls with the victims blood. Sheriff Archie Dunn said, "whoever did it.... hated those people." We learned today that the Sheldon's had been stabbed multiple times.

The Tri-State Major Case Squad was activated to assist Jasper County authorities with their investigation.That squad included thirty five officers from agencies in Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri. For several weeks Sheriff Dunn thought they were close to making an arrest in the case. Dunn became frustrated when evidence sent to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Lab took months to get back, and he became quite vocal about it. Let's just say that he didn't make many friends in Jeff City with some of the remarks he made.


Robert Charles Sheldon and Ellen Louise Ogden were married in 1957, and had two sons and two daughters. The home that they shared was at the end of a dead end lane on North Black Powder Lane. Also located on the property was, The Old Cabin Shop, that the Sheldon's operated for twenty eight years. Ironically, the building that now houses the Old Cabin Shop was the first courthouse in Jasper County in the 1800's.

In February an anonymous donor made a $20,000 donation to help find the Sheldon's killers. That amount grew to $40,000 recently.

Both Laurin and Winans are being held without bond in the Jasper County jail. They should be formally arraigned tomorrow.

Dunn says that the investigation is ongoing and that there could be additional arrests in the case.

BREAKING NEWS:ARREST MADE IN SHELDON MURDERS--- News Conference Scheduled This Afternoon (07-08-09):

On Monday Jasper County Sheriff Archie Dunn said that his office was interested in speaking with a "person of interest" in Springfield that could have vital information in the murder investigation of and elderly Carthage couple.

And today comes news that there's been an arrest made in last Octobers murders of Robert and Ellen Sheldon. There is a news conference scheduled for 2 p.m. in Carthage.

UPDATE 1:25 p.m.---There have been two arrest made in the murders one is a man from Carthage---the second is a man from Springfield. Charges are expected to be filed either this afternoon or tomorrow morning.

Lab Results Back In Rufus Church Death; Still No Comment From Law Enforcers:

Results from the state crime lab are back in the investigation of an Ozarks businessman found shot to death in a service garage of a car dealership he co-owned.

Sgt. Dan Bracker says that he cannot comment on what the evidence or results are because it involves an ongoing investigation.

Rufus Church was found dead in a garage that is adjacent to the former Ozark Dodge dealership on March 23rd from a shotgun blast to the chest. Ozark police chief Lyle Hodges has released very little information regarding the investigation into Church's death only that it was being investigated as a homicide.

However, in May Christian County coroner Arthur Adams amended Church's death certificate from 'homicide' to 'pending investigation'. Adams says, "I amended the original death certificate that I signed regarding Rufus Church from homicide to pending investigation after information was brought to me by the Highway Patrol and the Ozark Police Department."

It's been over ninety days since Church was found dead and there still are no real answers on what caused Church's death from anyone that has the ability to answer the questions.

***Ozark Dodge image Chrisitian County Headliner

BREAKING NEWS (07-07-09): Judge Throws Out First-Degree Murder Conviction Against Thomas Naumann:

In a surprising move the judge who presided over the murder trial of Thomas Naumann threw out the jury's May 1, 2009, first-degree murder conviction of the Nixa man.

Judge John Moody ruled on a post conviction motion filed by defense attorney Dean Price, "the verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree, entered by the jury in this cause is hereby set aside and held for naught. Further, upon motion by the Defendant and for good cause shown, the Court hereby finds Defendant guilty, beyond a reasonable doubt, of murder in the second degree."

Judge Moody was brought in from Wright County to preside over the case after Christian County Circuit Court Judge Mark Orr recused himself from the case.

Naumann was found guilty of helping Crystal Broyles inject former Macon County prosecutor David Masters with a lethal dose of cocaine back in 2005 ater a fight over rent money and unwanted sexual advances towards Broyles.

Jurors had the option of finding Naumann guilty of the lesser included offense of second-degree murder at the trial, but returned with the first-degree conviction after a little more than two hours of deliberations.

In video testimony presented during the week long trial, Nauman told Missouri State Highway Patrol investigator Sgt. Dan Nash that it was Broyles who administered the doses of cocaine while he was in the living room of the house. He told Nash, "she kept coming back in the room saying he won't die, he won't die....so I told her to give him more." Dr. Keith Norton testified at Naumann's trial that Masters had forty times the lethal limit of cocaine in his bloodstream when he died.

Broyles, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on the second day of her 2006 murder trial and was sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Chrisitan County Prosecutor Ron Cleek (a.) says, "we had a jury who worked hard to make a very difficult decision, and with the stroke of a pen, the Judge rendered it useless." Cleek adds, "I respect Judge Moody, but I think he made the wrong decision."

Price (b.), who drafted the motion with help of his co-counsel Tim Cisar says, "the prosecutor and the jury got it wrong....the judge got it right, and I'm thankful."





The only sentence that Naumann (who was originally scheduled to be sentenced yesterday) could have received on the first-degree murder conviction was life without the possibility of parole. Now the judge has the option of sentencing Naumann from10 to 30 years in prison. Some court watchers believe that Judge Moody will sentence Naumann to an identical 13 year sentence like his accomplice, Crystal Broyles.

Nauman is scheduled to be sentenced on August 3rd in Christian County.




https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/cases/searchCases.do
05N8-CR00476-02 - ST VS THOMAS NAUMANN

Does Someone In Springfield Hold The Answers To The Sheldon Murders?:

Jasper County Sheriff Archie Dunn says that investigators from his department are "looking at a person of interest" from Springfield in connection to the "horrific" murders of an elderly Carthage couple last October. The deparment developed the person/persons of interest, "from an old tip," that was received several months ago.

Daniel Sheldon became concerned about his parents, Robert and Ellen Sheldon, when they didn't show up for Sunday morning church services on October 12, 2008, at Fairview Christian Church in Carthage so he went to their house.

He wasn't prepared for what he found when he got there, 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....even the family dog was dead.

The Sheldons had attended a Sunday school party at the church the previous night, Oct. 11, 2008, and left the party between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. Monday’s news release refers to the murders as having taken place on Oct. 11, which suggests that investigators believe they were killed sometime before midnight.

Sheriff Archie Dunn said, "he was misunderstood when he said that this was a hate crime, however, he says the crime scene was filled with hate, whoever did it.... hated those people."

The sheriff also indicated that the announcement has “more than one purpose.” But he would not elaborate on what the other purpose was. Dunn would not discuss what led them to Springfield or where the they got the lead they are following.

There is a $40,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the person/or persons responsible for the Sheldon' murders. If you have any information that can help authorities call the Jasper County Sheriff's Department at 417-358-8177 or the TIPS line at 417-781-8477.

Fourth Of July Arson Sparked By Roman Candle Claims Life Of Schell City Mayor:

The mayor of a small Vernon County town died of a heart attack while battling a blaze that was sparked by a roman candle on the 4th of July.

Dale Haddix, 70, who was also the Assistant Volunteer Fire Chief in Schell City, was helping extinguish the blaze at an abandoned house on Second Street that jumped to a nearby storage building owned by the Schell City United Methodist Church, when he died.

Vernon County Prosecutor Lynn Ewing has charged eighteen year-old Charles Stewart with two counts of second-degree arson resulting in injury or death. The probable cause statement says that the charges are from two seperate structure fires....one for allegedly starting the weekend fire that claimed Haddix's life--the other arson charge is in connection to an structure fire at Maple and Third in Schell City on June 20th.

The State Fire Marshals office is assisting the Vernon County Sheriff's Office with the investigation according to Sheriff Ron Peckman.

Funeral services are pending for Haddix.




09VE-CR00536 - ST V CHARLES E STEWART

Former Secretary In Greene County Prosecutors Office Charged With Felony Stealing:

A former secretary in the traffic division at the Greene County prosecutors office was charged with felony stealing today (07-06-09) in Greene County.

The charges do no stem from any improprieties of Barbara Birdsong's employment at the prosecutors office, instead they come from a law firm she worked for prior to her employment at the Greene County Judicial Center.

The probable cause statement filed with the charges says that Birdsong was responsible for handling payments for the law firm of Groce and DeArmon, P.C. and accepted cash payments as part of her job. It is alleged that if a client paid in cash, Birdsong would pocket the money before it was deposited.

The alleged theft was uncovered by Attorney Shari DeArmon, who confronted Birdsong in June 2007. The PC states, “DeArmon stated that Birdsong admitted to her that she had stolen the $750 and had been stealing from the business in the past,”

Springfield police first learned of the alleged theft in 2007, but only approached Greene County Prosecutor Darrell Moore about the accusations recently.

Birdsong was employed by the prosecutors office as a temporary employee in 2007, and when a permanent position opened up they offered the thirty eight year-old Birdsong the job.

Moore said his office will recuse itself from the case, and that will ask that a prosecutor from a neighboring county represent the state in the case.



https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/cases/searchCases.do
0931-CR04143 - ST V BARBARA J BIRDSONG