Preliminary hearing set for Joplin woman charged with DWI in crash that killed Terry and Rhonda Copple

The preliminary hearing for a Joplin woman charged with felony driving while intoxicated (death of two or more people) in connection with the January 4 collision that killed Terry Copple, 55, and Rhonda Copple, 48, of Joplin, will be held 10 a.m. Thursday in Jasper County Circuit Court.

In addition to the DWI charges, Rita Michelle Glasgow, 30, is charged with tampering with a vehicle in the first degree.

The alleged crimes are described in the probable cause statement, written by Joplin Police Department officer Mackenzie Roach.

I made contact with Ms. Glasgow at Freeman Hospital. I noticed that her pupils were constricted with eyelid tremors.

Ms. Glasgow appeared to very exicted, as well as Ms. Glasgow continually fidgeted with her fingers and had uncontrollable body tremors which is common with methamphetamine use.

Ms. Glasgow's heart rate and body temperature were elevated according to methamphetamine use.

Ms. Glasgow's heart rate and body temperature were elevated according to medical staff on scene.

Ms. Glasgow admitted that she consumed methamphetamine and Klonopin prior to operating her vehicle. Medical staff located a bag of suspected methamphetamine in Ms. Glasgow's bra and placed it on top of Ms. Glasgow's purse. 

I observed a clear baggie with 3.7 grams with packaging of a white clear crystal substance on top of Ms. Glasgow's purse. 

During a probable cause search of Ms. Glasgow's purse, I located a black box. In the black box, I located a loaded syringe with a clear substance, a clear baggie with 0.4 grams with packaging of a white clear crystal substance and multiple other items of drug paraphernalia

While I was at the hospital, I was notified that the white GMC Sierra was being reported as stolen to the Duquesne Police Department and that the owner of the vehicle, Ervin Whitt, was wanting to pursue charges.

While on scene at the hospital, I was notified by Colonel Swann that the passenger of the Ford SUV had been pronounced deceased at the scene. The passenger was identified as Rhonda Copple.

While still on scene at the hospital, medical staff advised that the driver of the SUV who had been identified as Terry Copple had been pronounced deceased due to the injuries he had sustained during the vehicle crash.

I read Ms. Glasgow implied consent asking for a blood sample. Ms. Glasgow admitted that methamphetamine would show up in her blood.

As she was being held without bond in the Jasper County Jail, a federal grand jury indicted Glasgow on meth conspiracy charges.