Trial of Joplin man charged with murdering his 17-year-old daughter to begin Monday

The first degree murder trial of Todd John Mayes, 61, Joplin, is scheduled to begin Monday in Jasper County Circuit Court.

Mayes allegedly shot and killed his daughter January 9, 2022, after she threw a bottle at him during an argument. 

The allegations against Mayes are detailed in the probable cause statement:

On the above date, Mayes and his seventeen-year-old biological daughter (P.N.) were in a verbal argument on the second floor of their residence located at the above address.

During the argument, P.N. picked up a glass alcohol bottle and threw it at Mayes. Mayes walked downstairs while P.N. stayed upstairs. While downstairs Mayes retrieved his Taurus 9mm Model PT111 handgun (serial number TYJ43689) from the desk drawer located in his bedroom.

After retrieving the handgun, Mayes went back toward the stairs to confront P.N. While walking up the stairs, Mays contacted P.N. who was walking down the stairs. Mayes extended the handgun from behind his back and shot P.N. in the abdomen.

Mayes did not attempt to render aid. Mayes then returned his handgun to the desk drawer.

Medical staff stated P.N. suffered a single gunshot to the abdomen. The bullet traveled through a major artery which caused substantial bleeding. After being transported to a local hospital, P.N. died as a direct result of the gunshot wound.

Mayes is represented by Brett Meeker, Carthage, while Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Nate Dally is the attorney of record for the state. The judge will be David Mouton.

The trial is scheduled to last five days.

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