With two more guilty pleas entered this morning in U. S. District Court in Springfield this morning, only one of the six people charged in connection with the kidnapping conspiracy that led to the death of Michael James Hall, Joplin, in 2020, remains.
The only one left standing is the man who allegedly fired the shot to the head that killed Hall following hours of torture.
A change of plea hearing had been scheduled for May 1 for Freddie Tilton, 50, Joplin, but that hearing was canceled and court files indicate Tilton's trial is scheduled for September 25 in Springfield.
Thomas pleaded guilty to kidnapping and a weapons charge, while Vaughan pleaded guilty to kidnapping.
Judge Douglas Harpool ordered pre-sentence investigations for both. No date is scheduled for sentencing.
Those who pleaded guilty earlier were Russell Eugene Hurtt, 51, Joplin, James B. Gibson, 41, Webb City, and Carla Jo Ward, 47, Joplin.
Hall's decomposing body was discovered by Joplin Police Department officers and Newton County Sheriff's Office deputies as they were executing a search warrant at 3517 Cherry Road in Joplin July 28, 2020.
Details of the kidnapping and murder can be found at this link.
5 comments:
I pray they both have to serve at least 25 years behind bars. They are evil individuals. They don't deserve any leniency. They showed that man no mercy.
Out of the six adults present at the time of this horrific murder, not one of them had the thought to be merciful to this man. They all should be locked up for life. Drugs or no drugs, they should have possessed some smidgen of humanity. Throw away the key.
This specific crime is appalling to me. These are individuals who grew up in Joplin. How could they turn into such cold hearted murderers? No compassion was shown to that man.
Should all 6 of them should get death penalty so we can get these criminals off the street forever jail i think is wrong death penalty is right in there cases stop returning criminals
They all 6 should have the death penalty to save the state of missouri funds for keeping them missouri needs to cut budget start with repeat criminals for serious crimes
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