IDENTITY RELEASED OF BODY FOUND IN BUTLER COUNTY OVER THE WEEKEND, TWO IN CUSTODY
The investigation is continuing into a body that was found over the weekend in Butler County.
Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs tells KWOC News, authorities responded to the area of County Road 611 Saturday evening for the discovery of a body.
Dobbs says the case is being investigated as a homicide.
Butler County Coroner Jim Akers tells us that the victim has been identified as 32 year old Johnathan Esparza, of Poplar Bluff. Akers added that Esparza's cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds.
Dobbs says that two people have been taken into custody in connection to the investigation, 33 year old Jonathan Kimbrough and 31 year old Wanda Stevens, both of Poplar Bluff.
Dobbs added that apparently Kimbrough shot the victim multiple times in a vehicle over a situation that had occurred earlier in the day between Stevens and Esparza. The suspects then transported the body to the location it was found.
Kimbrough and Stevens are each facing charges of murder 2nd degree and armed criminal action.
Agencies involved in the investigation include the Butler County Sheriff’s Department, the Butler County Coroner’s Office, Poplar Bluff Police Department, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
REPORT OF A GUNSHOT VICTIM CAUSES TEMPORARY LOCKDOWN OF DONIPHAN SCHOOLS
A report of a gunshot victim prompted the temporary lockdown of Doniphan schools on Tuesday.
According to the Doniphan Police Department, at approximately 2:47 pm, Doniphan Police received a report of a gunshot victim on Apricot Street.
Officers advised a lockdown of Doniphan R-1 Schools until the scene was secured as a precautionary measure.
Officers confirmed the scene was secure at 3:05 pm and the lockdown was lifted.
The Doniphan R-1 School District posted on Facebook that no students were ever in direct harm.
No further details have been released.
ABORTION RIGHTS AMENDMENT TO REMAIN ON NOVEMBER BALLOT RULES MISSOURI SUPREME COURT
An amendment to restore abortion rights in Missouri will be on the ballot, the state’s Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.
The proposal to enshrine abortion rights in the constitution is expected to widely undo the state’s 2022 near-total abortion ban if passed. Judges ruled hours before the Tuesday deadline for changes to be made to the November ballot.
Supreme Court judges ordered Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft to put the measure back on the ballot. He had removed it Monday following a county circuit judge’s ruling Friday.
The order also directs Ashcroft, an abortion opponent, to “take all steps necessary to ensure that it is on said ballot.”
WAYNE COUNTY MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO PRODUCING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
A Wayne County man will be sentenced in December after he admitted to producing images and videos containing child sexual abuse material for years.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office, 59 year old Kevin Carroll, of Patterson, has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor.
An investigation began when deputies with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department were called to Carroll’s home for a domestic dispute and seized electronic devices containing the child sexual abuse material. Carroll admitted to producing child sexual abuse material for about four years.
As part of the plea, both sides will recommend 25 years in prison at Carroll’s sentencing, which is scheduled for December 11.
TWO ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGES IN WAYNE COUNTY
Two people were arrested on drug charges Monday in Wayne County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, at around 1 pm 35 year old Clinton Mcalister, of Piedmont and 36 year old Ashley Spradlin, of Mill Spring, were taken into custody on charges of felony possession of a controlled substance - methamphetamine and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
Mcalister is also facing felony charges of possession of a controlled substance - hallucinogens and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Following the arrests, both subjects were held in the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.
PAVEMENT REPAIRS TO CAUSE DELAYS TODAY IN STODDARD COUNTY
Route Z in Stoddard County will be reduced to one lane today as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform pavement repairs.
The section of roadway being reduced is located from Route 25 to Route 153 near Bernie.
Weather permitting, work will take place today from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
