Social Media Threat Leads To Arrests

August 31, 2014 By Kelley Ray Leave a Comment

A social media threat targeting an individual at Eldon High School leads to two arrests on Friday. The school administration was informed of the threat shortly before 8:00am Friday morning at which time the district’s established procedures for threats was put into place. The high school was secured, access into and out of the building was restricted, and law enforcement was brought in. Two 17 year old suspects were taken into custody off of school property regarding the threat. At no point did they enter the school building. Sources say the teens were in possession of drugs when apprehended. No charges have been filed yet.

Eldon Public Urinator Charged With Felony

August 22, 2014 By Kelley Ray Leave a Comment

The man who was arrested earlier this week for urinating in front of several students and teachers at an Eldon elementary school has been charged. According to the Miller County prosecuting attorney’s office, 42 year old Michael Halderman of Eldon is charged with a Class B felony driving while intoxicated, repeat offender. Police say Halderman had a blood alcohol level of 3 times the legal limit. Police did find open containers of alcohol in his vehicle at the time of the incident.

Two In Vienna Arrested On Drug Charges

August 22, 2014 By Kelley Ray Leave a Comment

The Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement Group working with the Maries County Sheriff’s Office arrested two individuals in the Vienna area Thursday morning on federal charges. According to a report, 52 year old Starla Dudenhoeffer and 53 year old Timothy James where wanted by federal agents for attempting to distribute methamphetamines 500 grams or higher. The warrants for arrest follow a previous investigation conducted by the agencies back in November of 2013 when agents discovered crystal meth and weapons at the home on county road 302.

Missouri Supreme Court Sets Execution Date

July 27, 2014 By Kelley Ray Leave a Comment

A botched execution in Arizona is not stopping Missouri from moving forward with its own. The Missouri Supreme Court on Thursday set a September execution date for convicted killer Leon Taylor. Taylor is scheduled to die Sept. 10 at the state prison in Bonne Terre for killing a suburban Kansas City service station attendant during a 1994 robbery. Authorities say he tried to kill the victim’s 8 year old stepdaughter, too, but the gun misfired. Missouri has executed six men this year. Only Florida and Texas, with seven each, have executed more. Another execution is scheduled for Aug. 6, when Michael Shane Worthington is scheduled to be put to death for the rape and killing of a suburban St. Louis neighbor in 1995.

UPDATE: Arrest Made In Gerber Murder

July 13, 2014 By Kelley Ray Leave a Comment

Matthew Rumbaugh, Laclede County Jail Photo

An arrest has been made in the murder of 35 year old Chad Gerber in Laclede County. According to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office 65 year old Matthew Rumbaugh of Mountain Grove has been arrested and charged with first degree murder, first degree assault and two counts of felony armed criminal action. Rumbaugh owned the garage where Gerber worked. Gerber’s 15 year old son Riley Aaron Gerber died Saturday morning at a Springfield hospital after also being shot during the incident. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday. Rumbaugh is being held in the Laclede County Jail without bond.

Meth Pipe Leads To Drug Arrest

June 28, 2014 By Kelley Ray Leave a Comment

A lake area man is behind bars after a methamphetamine pipe was allegedly found on his person following an early Friday traffic stop. A Lebanon police officer reports that at about 2:48 a.m. he witnessed a truck driving westbound on elm street pass into the wrong lane, so he conducted a traffic stop then asked and was given permission to search the truck. As an occupant was exiting the rear passenger side of the truck, the officer reports that he heard what sounded like a hard glass object hitting the ground. According to a probable cause statement, 20 year old Brandon Dewayne East allegedly admitted that he had a synthetic form of marijuana, and had placed a pouch in the front seat that contained a glass pipe. East was charged with a Class C Felony of possession of a controlled substance. He is being held in the Laclede County jail in lieu of a $25,000 cash or surety bond.

Missouri Sets Next Execution Date

June 1, 2014 By Kelley Ray Leave a Comment

Last week the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the state to hold off on executing murderer Russell Bucklew to give more time for federal courts to consider arguments that the injection posed a risk of cruel and unusual punishment. Now the Missouri Supreme Court has set the execution date for an inmate that also faced delays in his execution. 54 year old John C. Middleton was sentenced to death for the 1995 shooting deaths of three people in northwest Missouri. He was previously scheduled to die by lethal injection in 2008, but the execution was stayed then by the Missouri Supreme Court amid legal challenges to the state’s death penalty procedure. His new execution date has been set for July 16th.