Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Webb City man pleads guilty to kidnapping conspiracy, change of plea hearing canceled for Joplin man


A Webb City man pleaded guilty to his role pleaded guilty to his role in the kidnapping conspiracy that led to the death of Michael James Hall, Joplin, whose decomposing body was discovered during the execution of a search warrant at 3517 Cherry Road in Joplin July 28, 2020.

James B. Gibson, 41, who also pleaded guilty to a weapons charge, is the second person to plead guilty following Russell Eugene Hurtt, 51, Joplin, who entered his plea April 11 in U. S. District Court in Springfield.







Change of plea hearings have been scheduled three of the remaining four co-defendants- Carla Jo Ward, 47, Joplin at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, and Amy Kay Thomas, 40, Webb City, and Lawrence William "Scary Larry" Vaughan, 51, Neosho, at 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Thursday, April 27.

A change of plea hearing for the man who allegedly shot Hall in the head killing him, Freddie Tilton, 50, Joplin, was scheduled for May 1, but a notice was filed today canceling that hearing.

Details of the kidnapping and murder can be found at this link.



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