Current Missouri law allows orders of protection for one year – potentially forcing domestic violence victims to repeatedly return to court and face their abuser. The Missouri House has given initial approval to a bill that would allow the victims to get a lifetime order of protection. Representative Tracy McCreery, a Democrat from […]
Tag: victim
Man pleads guilty to $244 million ghost-cattle scam
A Washington man pleaded guilty to defrauding Tyson Foods Inc. (Tyson) and another company (Company 1) out of more than $244 million by charging them under various agreements for the purported costs of purchasing and feeding hundreds of thousands of cattle that did not actually exist. According to court documents, Cody Allen Easterday, 49, of […]
Audio:” Missouri bill would re-direct federal stimulus checks for prisoners who owe restitution
A northwest Missouri state senator wants to re-direct federal stimulus payments which might be heading to prisoners who owe money to victims. Senator Tony Luetkemeyer, a Republican from, Parkville, sponsors the measure being considered during the legislative session in Jefferson City. Luetkemeyer’s bill could head to the Senate floor at any time. Congress […]
Pattonsburg man facing multiple counts of sex-related crimes against children
A Pattonsburg man charged with multiple counts of child molestation had his case bound over to Division One of Daviess County Circuit Court on March 29th. Seventy-three-year-old Steven Dale Lawrence is scheduled for arraignment on April 14th. Lawrence has been charged with the felonies of second-degree child molestation, third-degree, and two counts of fourth-degree as […]
Audio: Blaze in northeast Missouri’s Hannibal kills three, including two small children
Firefighters in northeast Missouri’s Hannibal say three people are now dead from that horrific house fire, including two small children. Missourinet Quincy affiliate WGEM reports the fire killed 42-year-old Jason Carpenter, along with five and six-year-old brother and sister Logan and Summer Shanks. Neighbor Candiss Clement tells WGEM she can’t believe the victims are gone. […]
Missouri man sentenced to 70 years in prison without parole for sexual exploitation of a minor
A Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court for coercing a minor victim to engage in illicit sexual activity. Tracy Todd Presson, 55, of Gainesville, Missouri was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 70 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Presson to spend the rest of his life […]
Bond modified to $20k or 10% for Brookfield man accused of sexual contact with a child
Bond was modified in the Associate Division of Linn County Circuit Court on March 24th for a Brookfield man accused of having sexual contact in 2014 with his minor sister. The court modified the bond to be $20,000 cash, surety, or 10% for 23-year-old Cody Lee Munsterman. Bond was previously set at $50,000 cash only. […]
Audio: Missouri man charged with killing his wife and her parents
Springfield area prosecutors say a Strafford man has been charged with the deaths of his wife and her parents. Court documents say Huy told detectives his wife’s parents had come to town to help his wife as she recovered from back surgery, but Huy then became frustrated because his in-laws “wouldn’t leave.” “I […]
Brookfield man accused of sexual contact with his minor sister
A Brookfield man accused of having sexual contact in 2014 with his minor sister has been charged in Linn County. Twenty-three-year-old Cody Lee Munsterman has been charged with the felonies of first-degree sodomy or attempted sodomy with a victim less than 12 years of age and sexual misconduct or attempt involving a child under 15—first […]
Audio: Two police officers in Missouri jailed after being charged with rape
Two St. Louis police officers have been charged with the sexual assault of four women, including claims of drugging at least one woman’s drink. The St. Louis Post Dispatch reports 38-year-old Lafeal Lawshea is accused of raping two women in 2009 and then sexually assaulting a civilian police department employee in 2019. He […]
Branson performer pleads guilty to fraud scheme
A performer at a Branson, Missouri, theater pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing more than $85,000 from hundreds of his own audience members who donated to his non-existent charity for foster children. “For several years, this performer took advantage of his own audiences by pulling at their heartstrings while stealing from their pockets,” said […]
Trenton man facing charges of burglary, property damage and assault
A Trenton resident has been arrested and faces charges that involve burglary, property damage, and two counts of assault. Twenty-six-year-old Michael Dillon Odor is held in lieu of five thousand dollars cash bond. His next court appearance is March 23rd in the Associate Division of Grundy County Circuit Court. Odor is charged with felony burglary […]
Woman convicted in 2018 murder of St. Clair County Missouri man
On Saturday, March 6, in a case handled by the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, a jury convicted Elizabeth Kilgore in connection with the murder-suicide of her husband, Lance Kilgore, and father Charles Sander. On the morning of September 7, 2018, the defendant’s husband Lance Kilgore was ambushed and murdered by her father Charles Sander […]
Missouri man sentenced to 8-years in prison for $6 million Ponzi scheme
A Kansas City, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court for engaging in a $6 million Ponzi scheme that defrauded dozens of victim investors. Matthew R. Peterson, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to eight years and one month in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Peterson to pay […]
Owners of Christian reform school in Missouri charged with more than 100 counts of abusing girls
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced in a press conference that his office has filed a total of 102 criminal charges against Boyd and Stephanie Householder, who were the owners and operators of the now-defunct Circle of Hope Girls Ranch and Boarding School. Boyd and Stephanie Householder have been arrested and are in custody. […]
Suspect in custody, body recovered after law enforcement pursuit ends in Ray County
A suspect is in custody, and a body was recovered after a law enforcement pursuit that ended in Ray County on March 8th. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports 25-year-old Tyler Gooding of Pleasant Hill was reported missing in Cass County on March 5th and identified as the victim of a homicide in Lafayette County. […]
Audio: $10,000 reward offered in the killing of a 9-year-old Caion Green in St. Louis
CrimeStoppers is offering a $10,000 reward for information about who killed a 9-year-old last weekend in St. Louis. On March 7th, officers received a call for “Shots Fired” in the 900 Block of Lasalle Park. At approximately 10 pm, followed by a call for a “Shooting” after Victim Caion Green, who was 9 […]
Missouri Supreme Court Judge Laura Stith retires after 20-years on the bench
A 20-year chapter ends today for Missouri Supreme Court Judge Laura Denvir Stith. After serving on the high court for two decades, Stith is retiring. The photos have come down off her office walls. Stith has packed up her certificates and awards she proudly showcased in her third-floor office along West High Street in Jefferson […]