Joplin woman held on $300,000 bond after allegedly committing statutory rape on boyfriend's autistic son

A Joplin woman is being held in the Joplin City Jail on a $300,000 surety or $50,000 cash bond after being charged with the statutory rape of her boyfriend's autistic son.

The probable cause statement alleges the Joplin Police Department caught Shannon Roxanne Mari McLaughlin (DOB 1983) in the act in a parking lot at E. 10th Street/S Kentucky Avenue.

From the probable cause statement:

On 03/29/2025 Officers with the Joplin Police Department checked on a suspicious vehicle, parked in a gravel lot near 10th Street and Kentucky Avenue Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri. The approximate time was 11:48 PM. The vehicle was a grey Chevrolet Trail Blazer, parked, headlights were on. 

Shannon McLaughlin opened the rear driver side door and Officers observed she didn't have any shoes on. Victim 1 was sitting in the front passenger seat without a shirt on and the windows of the vehicle were fogged up. McLaughlin is in a relationship with Victim 1's father, however they are not married.

They were the only ones inside the vehicle upon police contact. 

An interview was conducted at the Children's Center of Southwest Missouri with Victim 1. During the interview with a children's advocate interviewer Victim 1 acknowledged and discussed having sexual intercourse with McLaughlin. 

Victim 1 states that they were parked in a parking lot, he and McLaughlin entered the back seat, and McLaughlin asked him if he wanted to have sex. Victim 1 agreed by saying "Ok" and he states they started playing with each other. 

During the interview, the boy was shown diagrams of a man and a woman and showed where he touched McLaughlin and where McLaughlin touched him, the probable cause statement said.

The woman and the boy were having sexual intercourse when  "the cops drove by and turned on their lights, so they stopped."

McLaughlin is older than the age of 21 and the victim is less than 17 years of age. Victim 1 disclosed that McLaughlin engaged in sexual intercourse with him as stated above. Victim 1 has been diagnosed with autism.

If McLaughlin is able to make bond, she will be required to wear an ankle monitor and not be allowed to have any contact with the alleged victim or anyone else under age 18.