Tentative Trial Dates Set In Death Penalty Case Of Springfield Man:

Tentative trial dates have been set for a Springfield man accused of killing a Carthage couple in their home in October of 2008.

Judge Gayle Crain has set possible trial dates of November 1, 2010 or January 17, 2011 for the death penalty case against 20 year-old Matthew Laurin.

Prosecutors allege that Laurin and Darren Winans stabbed Robert and Ellen Sheldon to death in their Jasper County home during a burglary.

Laurin is scheduled to appear in court on April 9th where a firm trial date is expected to be set.

Mulitple Jurisdictions Considering Charges Against Peter Newman:

Pete Newman

The former director of Kanakuk Kamps is facing charges out of La Plata County, Colorado for an alleged sexual assault of a child under the age of 15.

Peter "Pete" D. Newman, 34, Lebanon, Ohio, was arrested on a Colorado warrant as he made an appearance on a change of venue motion last week in Taney County. Newman was charged last September with several alleged sex offenses against underage boys who were campers at Kanakuk.

In Colorado he is suspected of sexual assault on a child under 15 by a person in a position of trust for an alleged sexual assault that took place in September of 2008 at Kanakuk's K-Colorado facility near Vallectito. Joe White sold K-Colorado to his daughter and son-in-law. They have renamed it Kivu.

Kanakuk Kamps is Christian summer camp for boys and girls between ages 7 and 18 headquartered out of Branson, MO.

Newman, had been employed by Kanakuk for ten years before his resignation and termination last year.

Investigator Sam Eggleston with the La Plata County sheriffs office says that his office is conducting an investigation to try and determine if there are any more victims in their jurisdiction. "Sexual assault cases are a touchy subject. There's a lot of pain and embarrassment that accompanies cases like this. Cooperating victims will make the cases against Newman easier to prosecute." Eggleston says the investigation is ongoing.

I've been in touch with agencies in multiple states who are considering charges against Newman."

Newman, who is being held in the Taney County jail on $250,000 bond out of CO (Taney County is holding him without bond,) will not be officially charged with the suspected Colorado offense until he is extradited to Colorado and is formally arraigned.

Taney County prosecutor Jeff Merrell says that just because his office filed charges against Newman first that doesn't necessarily mean that they will have trial advantage, "whoever has their case ready to go first will get the first crack at Mr. Newman."

Newman's next scheduled court appearance is March 4, 2010 in Taney County.

NOTE: When I made a call to Kanakuk last week I was told that Kivu had been sold to the son and daughter-in-law of Joe White. One of the readers of my blog brought it to my attention that it was sold to White's daughter and son-in-law. Another call to Kanakuk was made, and this time I was told the correct owners are in fact White's daughter and son-in-law.

In new jail intake records from Newman's latest arrest he lists Lebanon, Ohio, as his home.

The story has been corrected.

Murfin's Market Sustains Heavy Damage In Burglary:

A brazen burglar broke into Murfin's Market in Marionville with a tree trimming truck early this morning and ripped the safe out of the front of the store.

Marionville Police Chief Mark Webb says, "The front of the store looks like it exploded."

Webb says that someone stole a bucket truck from Wright tree trimming service and disabled the GPS tracking unit on it. Webb says that the thief backed up to the store then rammed the bucket part of the truck through a plate glass window.

The store's surveillance video isn't going to be of much help to investigators according to the chief. Webb says a passerby called 9-1-1 shortly before 5:30 a.m. but there weren't any cops on duty in Marionville at the time. Lawrence County dispatched two police officers from Aurora. They arrived on scene at 5:32 a.m.

Webb says the suspect had dragged the safe around the back of the store and was attempting to open it when the cops got there. "He jumped back in the truck and rammed one of the cruisers sending it spinning into the other officers car. Took 'em both out."

Then the truck literally tore through a neighboring apartment complex. "Tore up landscaping, banisters, hit the corner of a couple of the buildings," says Webb.

Webb says that officers thought they would catch up with the suspect on Highway 60 but the guy drove the truck through an apartment complex before he bailed out and fled on foot.

"It had just started snowing and they were able to follow some footprints up to the woods, then they lost them." according to Webb.

Webb says they are looking for a stocky man, about 5'11" to 6'1".

Neither officer was hurt in the incident according to Webb.

Press Release by the City of Aurora Police Department

1-29-2010

At approximately 0526 hours, 01-29-2010, the Lawrence County Sheriff's Department reqeusted assistance from the Aurora Police Department to investigate a burglary in progress at Murfin's Market in Marionville.

Two Aurora officers responded, arriving on scene at about 0532 hours. Officers drove to the back of the building, where they saw a tree-trimming bucket truck with a safe hanging from the bucket.

Upon seeing the patrol cars, the driver of the truck accelerated toward the patrol cars, striking one of them directly. The second patrol car also sustained minor damage. Neithe officer was injured. The driver of the truck fled the scene.

The truck was found abandoned a short time later. The suspect fled on foot, with the tracks in the snow leading in a southerly direction from the truck. Officers and Sheriff's deputies followed the tracks until the still-falling snow completely obscured them. It was learned the truck was stolen earlier from a location in Marionville. The investigation is on-going.

Pat Jenkins Capt.

Aurora PD

Attempted ATM Theft In Nixa:

Two men attempted to steal an ATM last night between 1:40 and 3:00 a.m. in Nixa, now cops want you help in tracking them down.

One of the suspects is wearing a hat, mask, blue jeans, dark gloves and a camouflage jacket. But there is one distinguishing item on his clothing that authorities believe will help them. The suspect has a black knee brace on his left knee.

The Christian County Sheriff's Office says that a car stolen from a business in Ozark was used in the attempted heist at Guaranty Bank at 291 E State Highway CC in Nixa.

If anyone has any information please call the Christian County Sheriff’s Office at 417-581-2332 or the Crime Tip Hot line at 581-HELP (4357) or 9-1-1.

Tulsa Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Attempted Enticement Of Minor:

A man from Tulsa has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for attempted enticement of a minor.

On Oct. 21, 2009, Robert Dean Graef pleaded guilty to engaging in online chats with a person he believed was a 13-year-old girl, but who in fact was an undercover officer with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department.

On April 17, 2009, Graef made arrangements to meet the girl at a cemetery in Carthage. When Graef entered the cemetery and drove to the crypt where the meeting was to take place, he was taken into custody.

At the time of his arrest, Graef had a pistol holder and .40-caliber magazine in his pocket. A loaded .40-caliber Glock pistol with a laser sight and a magazine was located in the center console of the mans vehicle. Officers also found duct tape, black plastic zip ties fashioned into handcuffs, a pair of handcuffs, two Glock magazines with 13 rounds of .40-caliber ammunition, and 50 rounds of .45-caliber ammunition in Graef’s vehicle. Cops also found a pistol holder and .40-caliber magazine in his pocket.

Graef also admitted that he traveled across state lines to Jasper County, Mo., on April 17, 2009, for the purpose of attempting to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

In addition to the 10 year sentence, Graef must forfeit a Glock .40-caliber handgun, magazines and .40-caliber ammunition, and a 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible, all of which were used to commit the offenses.

Cops Nab Alleged Counterfeiters:

Michael Collins

Two men from Springfield are behind bars for allegedly printing and passing counterfeit money in the city.

Cops executed a search warrant Wednesday at a house on West Madison and found found counterfeit money, a printer and items that had been purchased with counterfeit money at the residence.

Michael Cass

Michael E. McDonald-Collins and Michael T. Cass have been charged with Forgery and Possessing of Forgery Instrumentality.

During the past two months authorities have received multiple reports of bogus money being passed to local businesses.

Both men are being held in the Greene County Jail. McDonald has a $15,000 bond, and Cass his being held in lieu of a $10,000 bond.

The Springfield Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service are continuing the investigation.

DWI Trial Rescheduled For Nixa Mayor:

The jury trial that was scheduled to begin today for Nixa Mayor Brian Hayes has been rescheduled.

Hayes was pulled over for suspicion of drunk driving last June in Nixa by a city police officer. Once the officer realized whom he had pulled over he called for the Highway Patrol to take over the investigation.

Hayes' attorney, Steve Meier, says that the trial has been rescheduled for April 29, 2010.

Hayes is seeking reelection this April 6.

UPDATED: Polk County Authorities Need Publics Help In Finding Mentally Disabled Man:

UPDATE~~AUTHORITIES HAVE LOCATED NICKEL

The Polk County Sheriffs Office needs your help in finding a man that went missing last night.

An endangered person advisory has been issued for 28 year-old Lucas O. Nickle. Nickle is a 6'4" white male, 240 lbs, brown hair, brown eyes, wearing tan Carhart jacket, black hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, and work boots. He is mentally disabled, bipolar, and a paranoid schizophrenic who suffers from delusions, and may become violent.

The impending wicked weather getting ready to blast its way through the Ozarks has made the need to locate Nickle more urgent.

Anyone that may have seen Nickle is urged to call the Polk County Sheriffs Office at 417-777-9020 or 9-1-1.

Developing~~FBI Investigating Inmate Death At Fed Med As Possible Homicide:

An inmate at the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield is dead and now authorities are investigating his death as a possible homicide.

Victor Castro-Rodriquez, 51, who was incarcerated "because he was dangerous due to mental illness" was found unresponsive in his cell Tuesday evening. After failed attempts to resuscitate him, Castro-Rodriquez was pronounced dead about 8:40 p.m.

Warden Marty Anderson says that Castro-Rodriquez, who was from southern Florida and has been incarcerated at the Fed Med since 2002, did not have a cell mate.

Anderson says that the FBI is in charge of investigating the inmate death, "because they have law enforcement jurisdiction over federal prisons."

Cops Need Help In Finding Branson Bank Robber---UPDATE~~SUSEPCT APPREHENDED:

The FBI and authorities in Branson are looking for a man who held up the Great Southern Bank on the strip during this afternoon.

Cops say the man entered the bank about 12:30 and told the teller he had a gun and demanded money.

Police say after receiving an undisclosed amount of cash, the suspect fled in a silver pickup with Arkansas license plates. That truck was last seen headed east on Highway 76.

Authorities are looking for a white man in his early 30s, about 5 foot 9, weighing 160 pounds. He was wearing a brown cap, sunglasses, light colored zip-up jacket, faded jeans and tan work boots.

If you have information about the incident you should contact the Branson Police department at (417) 334-3300 or 9-1-1.

UPDATE:

Chad Moreland, 37, was taken into custody tonight by the Arkansas State Police at his home near Roland. He is being held in the Pulaski County, Arkansas jail pending extradition back to Missouri.

UPDATED: Sheriff Will Ask For Coroners Inquest In Johnson Family Murder/Suicide:

Sheriff Richard Wrinkle

The man that allegedly killed his wife and son last week served time in a Kansas prison for a string of violent crimes back in the mid '80's.

Sheila Johnson

Sheila Johnson, 40, and Blake Johnson, 10, were found dead in their Lebanon home last on Friday, January 22, 2010 after a family friend went to the house to check on them.

Brent Johnson, who was out of the country on vacation, received an email from his brother Todd telling him where important papers were and telling him someone should go check on his family.

Blake Johnson

When the friend got to the house, little Bryce Johnson, 8, answered the door. When he went to check on his family he found his mother and brother covered in blood. Medical examiners say that Sheila and Blake died of blunt force trauma to the head and sharp force trauma to the neck.

Johnson Home (courtesy of KJEL)

Todd Johnson was found dead in a vehicle that was at the bottom of a water filled rock quarry later the same afternoon. Medical examiners say that he somehow placed the barrel of a twenty gauge shotgun in his mouth while he was driving and shot himself.

Sheriff Richard Wrinkle says he believes Johnson committed suicide because the shotgun blast wasn't the only contributing factor in the mans death. "His aorta was ripped from his chest from the impact of the car hitting the ground and his lungs had time to fill with blood before he died."

According to court records and newspaper reports from The Kansas City Star and the Olathe Daily News, Todd Johnson and his brother Brent and a loose knit gang of five other men went on a crime spree in 1985. They robbed a Savings and Loan in Olathe, KS, a grocery store in Olathe, and the Lakeside Hills Golf Course in Johnson County, Kansas.

They also attempted to rob two Wells Fargo armored trucks. In one of those attempted robberies a man driving one of the trucks was shot in the leg in the attempted robbery. In the golf course robbery the manager was beaten in the head with a baseball bat.

Todd Johnson was sentenced to 14-to-50 years in prison for his part in the crime spree and was paroled after five years. At some point during his incarceration, Todd Johnson got in trouble for throwing water on another inmate.

Brent Johnson was sentenced to 19-to-70 years and was paroled from prison in 1993.

One of the men involved in the attempted armored car heist, 19-year-old Shane Hannah, killed himself two months after he was arrested.

Todd and Sheila Johnson were married in 1994 and moved to Lebanon in 2002. In 1999 Todd and Sheila adopted Sheila's twelve year-old niece, who was not at the home at the time of her family's murders.

Todd Johnson moved to southwest Missouri and became a successful businessman. He was a partner in the Excell Group that operates several Sonic franchises in Missouri.

Why is any of this relevant? Because Todd Johnson allegedly asked one of his employees to steal his wife's jewelery the night his family was murdered. Johnson had allegedly told people that he had fired the man for stealing from the restaurant and was afraid he would follow him home one night.

That employee, who has been interviewed several times by law enforcers, says that Johnson wanted him to make it look like someone had tried to break into his house. Sheriff Richard Wrinkle says that when they couldn't find the jewelery Todd allegedly told the 26 year-old man, "what I really want you to do is kill my family."

Wrinkle also believes this man was also going to become a victim. "How much more convenient could it have been for Johnson to kill this guy that he was afraid of if he had come home and found him killing his family?"

The man told Johnson he couldn't do it. Inside sources say he waited in the garage from about 10 p.m. Thursday night until about 4 a.m. Friday morning. "Johnson came out to talk to the man several times....and at one point, he changed his clothes."

Investigators are have subpoenaed phone records and are checking time lines of several people including the Sonic employee who admits to being in the garage the night the family was murdered. Computers from the family home, Brent Johnson and the Sonic employee have been voluntarily turned over according to Wrinkle.

Sheriff Wrinkle says that at the he has told Laclede County prosecutor Angie Hemphill-Wright that, "When we get to the point when we finish our investigation, I'd like a coroners inquest so all the information and investigative work can be released in a public forum."

Wrinkle says that request is several weeks away. Laclede County coroner Steve Murrell says that he will not call for an inquest just to quell rumors.

Note: Calls to Sonic corporate headquarters inquiring about what background checks and hiring procedures the company has in place for management/owners were not returned.

Amish Couple Plead Guilty To Several Charges:

An Amish man who was charged with sex crimes against his children last year has pleaded guilty.

Webster County assistant prosecutor John Tyrrell says that Johnny Schwartz, 36, Seymour, was charged back in October with two of first-degree child molestation and counts of statutory sodomy.

Today (01-26-10) he was sentenced to two ten year consecutive sentences on the child molestation charges; he also received two seven year sentences on the statutory sodomy charges that will run concurrent to the ten year sentences.

Fannie Schwartz pleaded guilty to charges of endangering the welfare of a child and was placed on five years probation for not reporting the abuse of her daughters. She must also complete 100 hours of community service.

Elders of the Schwartz's church shunned him twice for the abuse of his girls....four of those elders will face a bench trial on March 10 for being mandated reporters who allegedly did not report the crime.

Suspect In Jewelery Robbery Literally Coughs Up Evidence:

Cleon Harris

Cops usually have to tell suspects to cough up the evidence, but in a bizarre case in Joplin last week that's literally what happened.

A woman told police that she left her purse in her car while she ran in the mall. When she got back her purse and a $20,000 diamond ring that was inside of it were gone.

Police put out a description of the ring to several local jewelery stores and within hours received a call from a store owner who said that a man and woman had come into his store to get a ring appraised that matched the description of the stolen ring.

When investigators got to Newton's Jewelers, the suspects were still there....but the ring was gone.

While questioning the suspects, Cleon L. Harris, 23, Joplin, started coughing violently and literally coughed the ring up.

Harris and Breanna M. Johnston, 19 (a.), also of Joplin have been charged with receiving stolen property.

Sheriff Says Person Was In Garage The Night Lebanon Family Was Murdered:

Todd and Sheila Johnson (family photo)

The case of a Lebanon family's murder yesterday (01-22-10) has taken another twist that has left investigators with more questions than answers.

Shortly before 8 a.m. Friday morning a family member of Sheila Johnson, 40, and Blake Johnson, 10, got an e-mail message saying that someone should go check on the family. Brent Johnson, who was on vacation in the Caribbean, called one of his employees and close family friend in Rogersville and asked him to go check on his brother and his family.

When the friend got to Todd Johnson's Goldenwood Road home, an eight year-old little boy answered the door. Sheriff Richard Wrinkle says the little boy asked him, "am I late for school... did we oversleep?” The family friend told the boy he needed to talk to his mom. The boy went upstairs and ran back down saying his mom was covered in blood."

The friend then told him to go check on Blake. Just down the hall the little boy found Blake in the same condition. "He came back and said his brother needed help," Wrinkle said.

The Johnson family are partners in the Excell Group that mange and operate several Sonic restaurants in the Lebanon area.




Johnson Family Home on Goldenwood Road (courtesy KJEL)


The employee that Brent Johnson called said that another Sonic employee had come to his home and told him that Todd Johnson had allegedly picked him up in his truck because he wanted him to burglarize his house.





Early on in the investigation cops said they were interviewing a person of interest in the case, and looking "for a family member to check his well being."

Turns out that the person of interest cops were talking to was the Sonic employee that Todd Johnson allegedly "hired" to steal his wife's jewelry and make it look like someone had broken into his home. When the employee told Johnson that he couldn't find his wife's jewelry, Johnson allegedly told the man that what he really wanted him to do was kill his family.

The employee that was asked to kill the Johnson family hid in the garage Thursday night/Friday morning, but couldn't go through with the murders.

Sources close to the investigation say that Johnson had told people that he was going to fire the employee and was, "afraid that he might follow him home one night." Investigators believe it was a set up, and that the man was also going to become a victim of Todd Johnson.

The employee that Johnson allegedly hired to burglarize his home left in his employers truck after he says he heard Johnson killing his family.


Laclede County Sheriff Richard Wrinkle

Todd Johnson fled the home to and was found dead in his vehicle that was at the bottom of a water filled rock quarry yesterday afternoon.

Some people who had been at a recycling center on Ginger Road hit a deer and got out to look at the damage to their car. "They saw fresh tire tracks that led off the side of the road, looked over the side saw a car in water and called us," Wrinkle says.

Today, medical examiners determined that Todd Johnson's cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head that is consistent with suicide. Investigators found a twenty guage shotgun in the wreckage that was bent from the impact of the crash.

Johnson crash photo courtesy Lebanon Daily Record

Wrinkle says that when Johnson shot himself in the head it caused his car to accelerate and fly off a berm before it dropped 100 feet to the bottom of the quarry and flipped into the water. The force of the impact ripped the aorta in his chest causing his lungs to fill with blood. "He wasn't dead when he hit the water...but he didn't live long after he hit hit it," the sheriff said.

Wrinkle says that at this point they are treating the employee as a witness in the investigation, "how much more convenient could it have been for Johnson to kill this guy that he was afraid of if he had come home and found him killing his family? I don't think Todd counted on him taking his truck that morning!"

Wrinkle says he will ask the Highway Patrol to reconstruct the crash scene to "make sure we've got it right. This investigation is nowhere near complete."

NOTE: When news was breaking, I was told that Sheila Johnson was 30, and Blake was 11. The ages in the story have been corrected to reflect their accurate ages.

Online court records out of Kansas show that Todd Johnson has a conviction for aggravated robbery, burglary and theft from 1985.

Eight year-old Bryce has been placed in the custody of his 22 year-old adopted sister. Funeral arrangements for the Sheila and Blake Johnson will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church in Lebanon; burial will follow at Mt. Rose Memorial Park.

Funeral services for Todd Johnson have been canceled. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are being handled by Butler Funeral Home in Bolivar.

Services are being handled jointly Holman-Howe Funeral Home in Lebanon and Butler Funeral Home in Bolivar.

An educational fund has been established for Brice Johnson, donations may be left at either funeral home or the

Bryce Johnson Educational Fund

c/o Heritage Bank of the Ozarks

1475 S. Jefferson Avenue

Lebanon, Missouri 65536

.

Cause Of Deaths Released In Lebanon Family Murders:

The official cause of deaths have been released in yesterdays murder/suicides of a Lebanon family.

Laclede County Sheriff Richard Wrinkle says that Blake, 10, and Sheila Johnson, 40 both died of blunt force trauma to the head and sharp force trauma to the neck.

Wrinkle says that Todd Johnson died from a single gunshot wound to the head that is consistent with suicide.

NOTE: When news was breaking, I was told that Sheila Johnson was 30, and Blake was 11. The ages in the story have been corrected to reflect their accurate ages.

UPDATED~~DEVELOPING--MOTHER AND LITTLE BOY FOUND KILLED IN LACLEDE COUNTY HOME--COPS FIND HUSBANDS BODY IN WATER FILLED QUARRY:

Authorities on the scene of a double homicide on Goldenwood Road in Lebanon (courtesy KJEL)

Authorities in La Clede County are investigating a double homicide.

Sources close to the investigation confirm that an elementary school aged little boy (5th grade) and his mother are the victims in the case. They were found dead shortly before 8 a.m. after a family member received a message saying that "someone should go check on the family."

A family friend went to the house an eight year-old little boy answered the door and when he went to find his mother 40 year-old Sheila Johnson, he found her dead. When went he went down the hall, he found his 10 year-old brother Blake dead in his bedroom.

An investigator says that both Sheila and Blake had been stabbed and suffered blunt force trauma to their headss in their Goldenwood Road home, which is not far from Atchley Park.

Authorities, who believe Blake and Sheila Johnson were killed late last night or early this morning, have placed the 8 year-old little boy in protective custody.

But the father and husband of the deceased, Todd A. Johnson, is nowhere to be found. Police aren't sure if that's because he to could be a victim, or if he is somehow involved in the murder of his family.



Todd and Sheila Johnson (above)

Police have interviewed someone who was at the house last night, and don't believe he is a suspect in the murders. Investigators say they need to find Todd Johnson "to check his well being."

Cops say Johnson is 5 ' 11", has blue eyes and weighs approximately 170 pounds. He may be driving a charcoal colored Nissan Armada like the one pictured below with Mo tag SF1-X9B.





Dr. Duane Widhalm, superintendent of schools in Lebanon, says that his office was notified that one of his students was found dead along with his mother this morning.

Earlier in the day Widhalm said that the younger brother of the 5th grader who was killed was missing. However, Sheriff Richard Wrinkle said by phone that the little boy had been found in his bedroom unharmed by the friend who went to check on the family.

Boswell elementary, which Blake attended, and Maplecrest elementary, which the 8 year-old attended, were placed on preventative lock-down because a suspect is still on the loose. Widhalm says that they are monitoring anyone entering those buildings and that students will not be allowed outside for recess.

Sonic restaurants in Lebanon and Waynesville are closed today and, cops have been at the Lebanon store looking for possible clues in the murders. Tod Johnson manages at least four stores in the area.

The suspect is believed to be armed with an unknown weapon and police don't know where he may be headed.




La Clede County Sheriff Richard Wrinkle

As a news conference was about to get underway this afternoon investigators were called back to the scene because a witness showed up there saying that they might have possible information that could aid them in their investigation.

Late breaking news (3:30 p.m.) is that a vehicle with a body inside of it, that seems to match one cops have been looking for, has been pulled from a water filled quarry not far from the Johnson's home.

Sheriff Wrinkle says he believes that the body that was pulled from the vehicle this afternoon is indeed Todd Johnson.

Wrinkle says that some people had been to a recycling center not far from the quarry and had hit a deer. Those people got out to look at the damage to their vehicle and noticed that there were fresh tire tracks that led to off of a 100 foot cliff into the water filled quarry. When they looked over the side of the cliff they saw the S-U-V in the water.

Wrinkle says that the head of the man they found in the vehicle was crushed, but that when investigators talked to an adopted daughter of Johnson's she told them that her father had to have a toe amputated several years ago and surgically reattached.

According to the sheriff, the crash victim has a toe that is shorter than the others that has a surgical scar.

The bodies of Blake and Sheila Johnson have not been removed from the house as authorities thought they were going to have to obtain a search warrant before that could be done. With them finding Todd Johnson's car and body, Sheriff Wrinkle says they will not have to do that now.

Wrinkle believes that his department is now investigating a murder/suicide...."I think he knew he was especially screwed...and he decided to kill himself."

Autopsy's are scheduled for the Johnson's tomorrow morning (01-23-10) at 8:30 a.m. at Cox South.



Just three months ago this same community was rocked by the triple murder of Jeff and Glenda Smith and Zach Porter. Prosecutors allege in that case that the Smith's and Porter were killed by a group of four men, led by the former boyfriend of the Smith's daughter, who was jealous that she had started dating Porter.


NOTE: When news was breaking, I was told that Sheila Johnson was 30, and Blake was 11. The ages in the story have been corrected to reflect their accurate ages.

Former Kanakuk Kamp Director Peter "Pete" NEWMAN Arrested On Colorado Warrant For Sexual Assault:

The troubles continue for former Kanakuk Kamp director Pete Newman.

Newman was arrested this morning when he and his attorney, Tom Carver, appeared in a Taney County courtroom for a motions hearing. Newman was arrested on a warrant for an alleged sexual assault of a child out of La Plata County, Colorado.

At this time, court records in Colorado have been sealed, and Newman is being held without bond pending extradition to Colorado. La Plata County is located in southwest Colorado on the border with New Mexico. The county seat is Durango.

Prosecutor Jeff Merrell says that the state and defense counsel filed their recommendations on the change of venue motion, but proceedings were passed today by defense counsel following Newman's arrest. Today's proceeding have been rescheduled for March 4, 2010.

Attorney Tom Carver

Newman was charged with several sex charges involving children in Taney County last September including statutory sodomy and enticement of a child stemming from contacts he allegedly made with children through his ten year employment at Kamp Kanakuk.

Branson Man Admits To Producing Kiddie Porn:

A forty five year-old man from Branson has pleaded guilty in federal court to producing child pornography.

Ronald Darling admitted that he used a minor as young a six months-old to produce child pornography between Dec. 3, 2003, and Oct. 27, 2006. Darling also admitted that he received and distributed child pornography over the Internet.


When Darling’s computer equipment was examined, investigators found thousands of images of child pornography, including numerous images of the child pornography that Darling admitted to producing with an infant.

By pleading guilty today, Darling also agreed to forfeit to the government two digital cameras, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, an external hard drive, a scanner and a printer that were used to commit the offenses.

Under federal statutes, Darling is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 50 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $500,000. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

Jasper County Prosecutor Says He Will Seek Death Penalty Against Laurin, Winans:

Darren Winans (l.) and Matthew Laurin

Jasper County prosecutor Dean Dankelson has filed paperwork saying that he intends to seek the death penalty against two men who are accused of allegdly killing Bob Sheldon Ellen and in October of 2008.

Bob and Ellen Sheldon

Matthew Laurin, 20, Springfield, and Darren Winans, 22, Jasper, allegedly killed the Sheldon's while they were burglarizing their home when the couple returned home from a church outing.

Last month judge Gayle Crane ruled that both men will have seperate trials, but that a jury will be imported to Jasper County to hear the case.


Dankelson cites four alleged aggravating circumstances of the crime that meet the state statutory requirements for seeking the death penalty, according to Dankelson they are:



• Commission of first-degree murder (was committed) while engaged in the commission of another homicide.

• Commission of first-degree murder (was committed) for the purpose of receiving money or other things of monetary value from the victims.

• That each murder was “outrageously or wantonly vile, horrible or inhuman in that it involved torture, or depravity of mind.”

• That each murder was committed while the defendants were engaged in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of another felony offense, namely burglary or robbery.

Both Laurin and Winans are due in court on Moday (01-25-10) where it is believed a tentative trial date for both suspects will be set.

Updated: BODY FOUND BETWEEN 160 AND BENTWATER SUBD. IN NIXA:

UPDATE AT BOTTOM:

About 11:30 a.m. police and a school resource officer were dispatched to an open field in Nixa to investigate the body of what appears to be a teenager found dead.

The body was found in a field near Highway 160 and Tracker Road, between the bowling alley and Bentwater Subdivision, by a man out walking his dog.

Chief of Police James Bacon, Detective Jason Hartsell, the resource officer and medical personnel are on the scene.

Newest update we have is that the body is that of a male between the ages of eighteen and twenty years of age who was shot. A rifle was found nearby according to sources.

UPDATE 12:23 p.m.:


Nixa Public Schools is confirming that they were notified by the Nixa Police Department that Logan Richardson, a 9th grade SCORE student, was found dead today.

SCORE is an alternative school in the Nixa .

Det. Jason Hartsell says the Christian County Sheriff's Department took a missing person report on Richardson on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010.

Hartsell says it appears that fatal shot appears to be self-inflicted. An autopsy is scheduled to for Wednesday.

"It's always heart-breaking to lose a student. Our condolences go out to the family and friends," said Dr. Stephen Kleinsmith, school superintendent in a news release.


Greg Brock and Kathee Baird are working the story and will file updates as they become available.

Involuntary Manslaughter Charges Filed Against Two Texas County Men Who Allegedly Provided Teen With Alcohol:

David Stuart Foster (family photo)

Two men from Texas County were charged with involuntary manslaughter last week (01-13-10) for allegedly providing alcohol to a teenager who died in a car crash in May of 2009.

According to probable cause statements - dated June 1, 2009 - Benjamin L Crawford, 26, and Matthew Clinton Mayfield, 23, both of Houston, "purchased alcohol and provided it to minors on May 31, 2009."

Benjamin L. Crawford (Texas County)

David Foster, was 18 years-old and had graduated from high school just two weeks before the fatal car crash.

Court documents say that Crawford and Mayfield, "allowed David Stuart Foster to consume alcohol and to operate a motor vehicle."

Matthew Clinton Mayfield (mug shot Taney County)

According to a report by Highway Patrol Trooper Curtis Hubbs, Foster was fatally injured when his 1977 Corvette ran off the right side of the roadway, over corrected and traveled off the left side of the roadway before striking a rock embankment nearly head-on. The vehicle then traveled back across the roadway before flipping on its side. Foster was not wearing a seat belt.

Both Crawford, who was arrested in Texas County, and Mayfield, who was arrested in Taney County, have been released from jail after posting $100,000 bond.

Kidnapping Suspects Allegedly Planned To Kill Bates County Sheriff And Chief Deputy:

Jeffrey Muller (victim)

A Newton County New Jersey pet store owner was kidnapped Friday night (01-08-10) and driven through the night to Missouri by three armed abductors.

Federal and local authorities are still investigating the incident, in which Jeffrey Muller, 59, of Frankford, NJ, was allegedly targeted by three men, all from Missouri.

Andrew David Wadel


The suspects Douglas Stangeland, 46, of Nevada, Mo.; Lonnie Eugene Swarnes, 44, and Andrew David Wadel, 21 both of Rich Hill, allegedly approached pet store owner Jeff Muller, 59, of Newton, N.J., outside his business there Friday morning and asked if he was Jeff Muller, according to Newton Police Chief John Tomasula. When Muller said "yes," they zapped him with a stun gun and bound his hands and feet, authorities said.

The trio drove west out of New Jersey, holding a gun to Mullers head and told Muller their group was also holding his wife captive at the couple’s Newton home.




Lonnie Eugene Swarnes


Muller had gone to work to open his store at about 8 a.m. Friday according to his wife. Cops said that when his wife arrived at 10:30 a.m., the store was locked, her husband was nowhere to be found, and some of his personal belongings — including his bagged lunch and his glasses — lying in a parking lot.



William Barger


Cops say that Stangeland, Swarnes, and Wadel Muller were being actively recruited by William Barger to join the Heartland chapter of the Hells Angels. Barger claimed to be the son of Hells Angels founder, Sonny Barger. Problem is Sonny Barger does not have any biological children....and the "recruits" failed to do any research into William Bargers claims.

Newton Police Chief John Tomasula said there is no known connection between Muller and his alleged captors. He said the men targeted Muller, and that "extensive planning" had gone into the abduction."This is a very serious case," Tomasula said. "I'm confident that it'll be a far-reaching investigation."

Muller, was rescued outside a Lake Ozark, Missouri convenience store after he managed to free his hands and run when two of the men went inside to look for car parts.

Douglas Stangeland


Officials at first said they didn't know why someone would target Muller, but now they are saying they believe it was a case of mistaken identity.

The Bates County Sheriff's Department says that an investigation into 48-year-old William Barger revealed he allegedly wanted the "pledges" to kill Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson and Chief Deputy Justine Moreland.

Vernon County Sheriff Ron Peckman says the trio are, "bumbling idiots....they have apparently kidnapped the wrong person." Peckman says his department is actively investigating the three men are for a November home invasion in which the homeowner was shot in the hand, and he and his wife were bound to a chair with duct tape.





Weapons used in alleged kidnapping and home invasion


Authorities in Vernon County say that during the home invasion, the homeowner was shot in the hand, restrained and questioned about “anyone by the name of Muller.” Police believe the man who eventually was kidnapped was the wrong Muller.

Tomasula said that six of his officers had flown out to Missouri for the investigation, and two would be coming back with Muller.

Stangeland , Wadel and Barger are being held in the Vernon County jail on kidnapping, burglary, assault and armed criminal action charge out of Missouri and fugitive warrants out of New Jersey. They are all being held without bond, according to sheriffs deputies.

Tomasula said that the FBI is involved in the investigation. Representatives of the Missouri and New Jersey regional FBI offices could not be reached Sunday (01-17-10.)

Swarnes, of Rich Hill, MO, has waived extradition and has been transported to New Jersey.