Wednesday, April 05, 2023

Joplin man to plead guilty to role in kidnapping that led to murder

A second change of plea hearing has been scheduled in connection with the July 2020 kidnapping that led to the death of Michael James Hall of Joplin.

A notice of a change of plea hearing to be held 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 11 in U. S. District Court in Springfield was filed this morning by the attorney for Russell Eugene Hurtt, 51, Joplin. One of Hurtt's co-defendants, James B. Gibson, 41, Webb City, has a change of plea hearing set for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 18.







Hall's decomposing body was discovered during the execution of a search warrant at 3517 Cherry Road July 28, 2020.

The search warrant was executed after the Joplin Police Department and Newton County Sheriff's Office arrested one of the five people who were indicted, Freddie Lewis Tilton, 50, Joplin, following a two-hour standoff at that address.

Others indicted in connection with the kidnapping plot were Lawrence William Vaughan, aka "Scary Larry," 51, Neosho, and Carla Jo Ward, 47, Joplin.

3 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:31 PM


    I hope they don't let Amy Thomas get out of this. She wanted to be a gangster and she is not a nice person at all. She tortured that man mercilessly and knew they were going to kill him. They all knew. Each of those people should serve at least 20-25 years minimum, without parole. and Tilton should get life without parole.

    The indictment alleges Tilton shot Hall in the head, after Amy Kay Thomas, 40, Webb City, had cut him repeatedly with a knife and Gibson, 39, beat him with a club.

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  2. Anonymous8:22 PM

    Tilton should never see daylight again. I heard that they all cut Halls toes and fingers off one by one. He is a monster and has tried to kill multiple other people. So sad for all the families that he has tortured. Now some are missing loved ones.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:08 PM

      Agreed. They are all evil and cold blooded. The scripture says where no mercy is shown, no mercy shall be given. They all should be caged for life.

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