Sentencing rescheduled for Webb City woman who assaulted, tortured murder victim

A new sentencing date has been scheduled for a Webb City woman who pleaded guilty April 27 to her role in the kidnapping conspiracy that led to the murder of Michael James Hall, Joplin, July 28, 2020.

The sentencing hearing for Amy Kay Thomas, 40, will be held 9:30 a.m. March 5 at U. S. District Court in Springfield with Judge Douglas Harpool presiding.

The hearing was originally scheduled for January 4, but was rescheduled at the request of Thomas' attorney who said he needed more time to prepare materials for the court's consideration during sentencing.

According to a detention motion filed in August 2021, gang association led to Thomas' involvement in the kidnapping, torture murder of Hall whose decomposing body was discovered July 28, 2020, by officers from the Joplin Police Department and Newton County Sheriff's Office while they were executing a search warrant at 3517 Cherry Road, Joplin.

Others who have pleaded guilty in connection with the death of Hall were Freddy Lewis Tilton, 50, Joplin, Lawrence William Vaughan, aka "Scary Larry," 49, Neosho, Russell Eugene Hurtt, 49, Joplin, and Carla Jo Ward, 47, Joplin.

According to the plea agreement in Tilton's case, Ward picked up M.H., whom she knew was being sought by Tilton, and took him to Vaughan’s residence.

 

Tilton, Thomas, and Gibson arrived at Vaughan’s residence in the early morning hours of July 15, 2020. They bound M.H.’s hands with handcuffs, and duct tape was placed around his mouth and other parts of his body.

Gibson, Thomas, and others assaulted M.H. for a period of time. M.H. was cut, beaten, shot at, and burned with a blowtorch. As M.H. became bloody, Vaughan placed a plastic tarp on the floor. Tilton fatally shot M.H. in the head. They wrapped M.H.’s body in plastic wrap and transported it to Hurtt’s property.

Vaughan was sentenced to 25 years November 8. The others are awaiting sentencing.