NAME RELEASED OF HOMICIDE VICTIM IN STODDARD COUNTY
Updating a story we brought to you last week, authorities in Dexter have released the name of a victim in a homicide investigation.
According to the Dexter Police Department, on Thursday the Stoddard County Major Case Squad was activated regarding a suspicious death in Dexter.
INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY FOLLOWING HOMICIDE IN STODDARD COUNTY
A homicide investigation is underway in Stoddard County.
Few details about the incident are available, other than it occurred on Mulberry Street in Dexter.
We will keep following this story for you and bring you more information as it becomes available.
HEAT WAVE STRIKES SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Area residents are reminded to stay cool during the heat wave that is hitting Southeast Missouri.
According to a Special Weather Statement from the National Weather Service, high temperatures forecast around 90 degrees will combine with high humidity to yield peak heat index values from 100 to 105 across a large portion of the region this afternoon.
STORM KNOCKS DOWN TREES AND HEAVILY DAMAGES BUILDING IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Thunderstorms crossed the area on Tuesday causing numerous trees to be knocked down as well as heavy damage to a structure in Stoddard County.
According to the National Weather Service, multiple counties reported trees being down including an incident near Harviell, in Butler County, where multiple trees were down, blocking highway 158. Power outages were also reported in multiple areas, including Wayne and Northern Stoddard County.
In Dexter, a concrete storage shed was also heavily damaged on North Park Lane.
Weather officials say that wind gusts of 58 miles per hour were reported at the Poplar Bluff Airport shortly before 7 pm.
DEAD BODY DISCOVERED IN WAYNE COUNTY
A dead body was found Monday in Wayne County.
According to authorities, the body of a man was discovered Monday afternoon in the St. Francis River in the Patterson area.
An investigation is underway and an autopsy is set to be conducted today. The identity of the man was not released.
SINGLE VEHICLE WRECK IN CARTER COUNTY LEAVES ONE DEAD
An Ellsinore man has died from injuries he received in a wreck early Saturday morning.
According to authorities, 22 year old Bryan Parker was driving on US Highway 60 in Carter County when his vehicle travelled off the side of the roadway, struck a post, and then overturned in a ditch.
Parker was reportedly not wearing a safety device and was ejected during the wreck.
He was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.
ONE INJURED IN SINGLE VEHICLE WRECK IN WAYNE COUNTY
A Piedmont man has been taken to an area hospital following a single vehicle wreck.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 50 year old Raymond Mason was driving on Missouri Highway 49 in Wayne County, Wednesday evening, when his vehicle ran off the side of the road, overturned, and struck a tree.
ONE ARRESTED ON WEAPON CHARGE FOLLOWING INCIDENT IN KENNETT
A Kennett resident has been taken into custody in connection to an incident on Monday.
Officials with the Kennett Police Department tell KWOC News that at around 8:30 pm Monday night, officers were dispatched to an area residence in reference to a fight in progress with one party being armed with a firearm.
Following an investigation, officers arrested 40 year old Mickey Halford for domestic assault and unlawful use of a weapon.
Halford was held in the Dunklin County Justice Center pending the filing of formal charges by the Dunklin County Prosecutor’s office.
SHOOTING INCIDENT IN PUXICO LEAVES ONE DEAD
An incident on Friday in the Puxico area has left one woman dead.
According to authorities, the 55 year old woman died after receiving a gunshot wound. The name of the woman was not released.
An investigation into the shooting is ongoing and an autopsy has been scheduled for today.
MISSING POPLAR BLUFF MAN FOUND DEAD IN BLACK RIVER
Authorities in Butler County have found the body of a missing Poplar Bluff man.
KWOC News spoke with Detective Joey Woodruff, with the Poplar Bluff Police Department, who says the investigation began on Monday evening.
DETECTIVE JOEY WOODRUFF:
On Monday evening, around 900 pm, 48 year old Shawn Burkett was reported as a missing person to the Poplar Bluff Police Department. Burkett’s scooter was located under the Vine Street Bridge on the east Side of Poplar Bluff near the levy of the Black River. Officers checked the scooter and found Burkett’s belongings. Officers began to walk the river bank in search of Burkett. Around 945 pm, the SEMO Search and Rescue team was deployed. Around 1am the search for Burkett was terminated until daylight hours. On Tuesday morning, the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Water Patrol Division began assisting with the search for Burkett and officers learned that Burkett was believed to have been fishing the day of his disappearance. On Wednesday morning, at 930 am, the Poplar Bluff Police Department was notified the body of Mr. Burkett had been located in Black River just southeast of South Riverview Road in Poplar Bluff. A preliminary check of Mr. Burkett revealed no signs to suggest foul play.
Burkett was pronounced dead at the scene by Butler County Coroner Andy Moore.
ONE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY IN CONNECTION TO A SHOOTING THAT LEAVES ONE DEAD AND SEVERAL INJURED
A man has been arrested in Butler County in connection to a shooting in Blytheville Arkansas, that left one dead and several others injured.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 52 year old Israel Rocha, was arrested on a felony homicide warrant around 5:45 pm on Tuesday.
Rocha is currently lodged in the Butler County Justice Center with no bond.
OVER 80 CASES OF HEPATITIS A REPORTED BY BUTLER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Health officials are continuing to see an increase in reported Hepatitis A cases in Butler County.
According to the Butler County Health Department, as of June 8th, 86 cases of Hepatitis A have been reported with 57 percent of the cases requiring hospitalization.
Officials say that the majority of cases have been in people who use drugs and/or their close personal contacts.
Anyone who has been potentially exposed to an individual, experiencing Hepatitis A signs or symptoms is asked to call or visit the Butler County Health Department.
TWO ARRESTS MADE IN BUTLER COUNTY HOMICIDE
Two arrests have been made in a homicide investigation in Butler County.
Butler County Coroner Andy Moore tells KWOC News that the investigation began at Bricks Off-Road Park Saturday evening, after a 12 year old juvenile had been assaulted.
ANDY MOORE:
At approximately 10:30 PM on Saturday evening, the Butler County Corners office was notified of a homicide that took place at Bricks Off-Road Park. We identified the deceased as Joe Girard 41 of Oak Ridge Missouri. Preliminary findings indicate that he was struck multiple times and succumb to his injuries, due to blunt force trauma. At this time I do not believe any weapons were used. I have scheduled an autopsy for Monday morning at 9:30 with Dr. Russell Deidiker in Farmington Missouri.
KWOC News has learned the two suspects have identified as 39 year old Rickey Holt Jr., and 40 year old Brenda Holt, both of Bunker. Both suspects are facing charges of voluntary manslaughter. Rickey Holt was released from custody after posting bond and Brenda Holt remains in the Butler County Justice Center on a $100,000 cash or surety bond.
ALTON WOMAN FOUND DEAD FOLLOWING ATV WRECK
An Alton woman has been found dead following an ATV wreck.
Officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tell KWOC News that 47 year old Rena Ford was driving an ATV that skidded off the right side of Oregon County Road 102 and struck a tree, ejecting her.
POPLAR BLUFF MAN INJURED IN WRECK INVOLVING A DUMP TRUCK
A Poplar Bluff man was injured in a wreck involving a dump truck Wednesday morning.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the wreck occurred shortly after 8:30 am Wednesday on US Highway 67, approximately three miles north of Poplar Bluff.
The dump truck was attempting a pass when it struck a car in the side, causing the car to drive off the side of the road and overturn.
The driver of the car suffered minor injuries and was taken to a Poplar Bluff hospital.
KENNETT MAN FACING MULTIPLE CHARGES IN CONNECTION TO INCIDENT LAST WEEK
An area man is facing multiple charges in connection to a domestic disturbance last week in Kennett.
Officials with the Kennett Police Department tell KWOC News that Friday evening officers were dispatched to a residence where they learned that a suspect, armed with a handgun, had allegedly forcibly entered without permission and assaulted and threatened the occupants within.
31 year old Sedrick Harrell, of Kennett, was later arrested for burglary 1st degree, domestic assault 1st degree, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, property damage 2nd degree, and six counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Following the arrest, Harrell was held in the Dunklin County Justice Center.
ONE DEAD, ANOTHER INJURED FOLLOWING WRECK ON INTERSTATE 57
A Bernie woman has died from injuries she received in a Monday morning wreck in Scott County.
Officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tell KWOC News that the wreck occurred on Interstate 57 when a vehicle driven by 70 year old Sharon Stevens turned into the path of another vehicle.
Stevens was pronounced dead at the scene by Scott County Coroner Scott Amick.
The driver of the second vehicle suffered minor injuries and was taken to an area hospital.
ONE KILLED, FIVE INJURED IN BOAT COLLISSION
A Poplar Bluff teenager has died and five people are injured following a boat collision in Butler County.
Officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tell KWOC News that the collision occurred on Black River eight miles north of Poplar Bluff at around 7:30 pm Sunday.
The collision occurred as one of the boats was traveling downstream, veered into the path of the other boat and struck it head on, ejecting the occupants of both boats.
A 16 year old female occupant of the second boat was later pronounced dead at a Poplar Bluff hospital.
Four people involved in the wreck suffered serious injuries, including the driver of the first boat. Of these four, one was flown to a Memphis hospital, two were flown to a Cape Girardeau hospital, and the fourth was transported by ambulance to a Poplar Bluff hospital.
The driver of the second boat was moderately injured and also taken to a Poplar Bluff hospital.
According to a Highway Patrol arrest report, the driver of the first boat, 27 year old Braden Bollinger, of Dexter, is facing charges of boating while intoxicated.
