Webb City man found guilty of murdering Joplin woman, dumping body in mine shaft

A Jasper County jury deliberated for 27 minutes before finding Todd Greathouse, 55, Webb City, guilty of first degree murder today concluding the three-day trial.

Sentencing for Greathouse is scheduled for November 6 in Jasper County Circuit Court.

Greathouse was charged with the May 29, 2016 death of Anita Dunn, 61, Joplin, whose body was discovered in an abandoned mine shaft

The case against Greathouse was spelled out in the probable cause statement from Cpl. Luke Stahl of the Joplin Police Department:

Greathouse drove from his residence (1715 Prairie Flower Road, Webb City, 64875) to the victim, Willana "Anita" Dunn's residence (1101 S. Jackson Ave.). Greathouse and Dunn got into an argument and during the argument Greathouse strangled Dunn until she lost consciousness.

He then used a cord from a lamp and strangled Dunn until he was sure she was deceased. After Dunn was deceased, Greathouse carried her to his 1998 Volkwagen Beetle (Missouri License Plate SN0A9U) and placed her in the trunk.

Greathouse drove Dunn's body to the area of 1745 Pump Lane, Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri, 64801. Greathouse used wire and weed eater cord and tied Dunn to a rock; he then dropped Dun's body into an abandoned mine shaft filled with water.

Dunn's body was located in a flooded mineshaft in the area of 1745 Pump Lane. Dunn was tied to a large rock by wire and weed eater line.