Death Investigation

Audio: A 4 year old girl has died after being beaten in Benton County

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office in central Missouri is investigating a four-year-old child’s death on Sunday morning.     Investigators say the child had been beaten, along with two others who survived. The four-year-old girl died in Cole Camp, Missouri. According to the sheriff’s office, the father told authorities his daughter “had been beaten, submerged […]

Trenton Missouri Police Department (TPD)

Trenton man charged with endangering the welfare of a child turns himself in to authorities

The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office reports a Trenton man turned himself in December 17th on a charge of felony endangering the welfare of a child in ritual/ceremony in the second degree. Twenty-seven-year-old William Kyle Swartz’s bond is $5,000 cash only, and he is scheduled for the Associate Division of Circuit Court Tuesday. Probable cause statements […]

Jeremiah Searles Final

Denver, Missouri man admits murdering woman during court appearance, sentenced to 30-years in prison

A Denver, Missouri man was sentenced December 10th to 30 years in the Department of Corrections on felony murder—second degree. Worth County Prosecuting Attorney Janet Wake Larrison reports 39-year-old Jeremiah Searles was sentenced after pleading guilty to killing Melissa Chapman. A news release says Searles admitted to striking Chapman in the head with part of […]

Manhunt graphic

Stolen vehicle, armed carjacking and multi-county pursuit end with suspects in custody

On Tuesday morning, November 17, 2020, Chillicothe dispatch was alerted of a pursuit by the Linn County Sheriff attempting to stop a specific vehicle allegedly involved in a residential burglary in Linn County on Tuesday morning. A vehicle pursuit was reportedly in progress on Highway 36 in Linn County traveling westbound toward Livingston County. The […]

Presidential Election 2020

Audio: Over 800 thousand mail-in and absentee ballots cast in Missouri; 75% of voters expected to show at polls

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft says nearly 828,000 mail-in and absentee ballots combined have been returned to the state’s local election authorities for the general election. In the 2016 general election, roughly 282,000 absentee votes were counted.     Ashcroft expects about 75% of Missouri’s voters to cast a ballot in the election.   […]

2020 Elections vote

Missouri Election Day FAQ: What you need to know to make sure your vote counts

(Missouri Independent) – Across Missouri, local election officials have received 628,395 mail-in and absentee ballots, according to the Secretary of State’s Oct. 27 report.  Already, that’s more than twice the total absentee ballots counted in the November 2016 election. While many Missourians have already voted by mail or in-person absentee, many more will head out […]

Presidential Election 2020

Audio: Political scientist in Missouri says predicting outcome of election night will be challenging this time

In previous elections, Missouri counties posted absentee ballot results first. For Tuesday’s general election, that practice will vary from county to county. Columbia College Political Science Professor Terry Smith says the change presents a new challenge.     Missouri’s local election authorities have received more than 723,000 mail-in and absentee ballots so far for the […]