Tuesday, October 08, 2024

Probable cause: Surveillance video shows Josephs returning to scene of fatal hit-and-run, leaving again


One minute after the silver Ford Raptor pickup he was driving struck Gary LaTurner, 60, Galena, and continued without stopping, Rocco Joseph called his father, Joplin dentist John Joseph II and talked with him for four minutes, according to a probable cause statement unsealed this morning in Cherokee County District Court.

Rocco Joseph, 18, has been charged with leaving the scene of a fatality accident. His father faces the same charge and an additional charge of contributing to a child's misconduct.







Both Josephs were originally scheduled to have their initial court appearance Monday. The judge granted a motion by Rocco Joseph's lawyer to have the appearance postponed because he had mid-terms that week at the Mississippi college he attends. Dr. Joseph's appearance was also canceled. Both have been rescheduled for October 30.

Rocco Joseph told investigators he told his father "he had struck something possibly an animal and had been in a collision. Rocco stated that John asked if the vehicle was drivable. Rocco stated that he told John that it was and that John told him to drive it back to their residence. 

"Rocco made additional short phone calls after the phone call with John. At approximately 2334 hours second phone call was made by Rocco to John and the phone call ended at 2336 hours. During the same interview, Rocco identified the second phone call with his father as John asking Rocco to drive the vehicle to 'a Casey's General Store just down the road from their residence."

Rocco explained that it was so that they would have better lighting to see the damage.

The Josephs met at the Casey's General Store at 2764 W. 32nd Street, according to the statement, examined the damage, then went to their home. After a short time, they returned to the scene of the accident in the father's Dodge TRX.

Both Rocco and John were in the Dodge TRX, which was corroborated by GPS locations from both individuals' cell phone records and or tracking.
The probable cause statement indicates the Josephs were captured on surveillance video at the scene of the accident.







The Dodge TRX continued short distance and turned around by making a U-turn and once again drove back to the scene of the collision. The driver of the Dodge TRX then drove the vehicle on the shoulder up to the debris field and came to a brief stop. 

At the time of the brief stop, the debris field and LaTurner's body, a short distance off the roadway showed to be visible to Rocco and John. The Stirling Manufacturing Co. lnc. footage showed the headlights and alternate source lights from the KC roof rack lights illuminated not 'only the debris field but also LaTurner's body. The Dodge TRX then drove around the debris field driving away from the scene of the collision. 

It was several hours before LaTurner's body was discovered by a woman named Karen Black. Her statement was included in Rocco Joseph's probable cause affidavit.

"I was on my way to Wenger Mfg in Galena when I noticed the backpack, shoe {and} some miscellaneous stuff on the side of the road. It looked like a blanket laying in the ditch, so I turned around to realize it was a body. This is so very heartbreaking. {I} pray the person is found who brought this man's life to an end."

Investigators obtained surveillance video of the accident, according to Rocco Joseph's probable cause statement. 

This video showed LaTurner walking on the outside lane of eastbound travel, near the fog line at the time of impact. There were no skid marks, or signs of any avoidance maneuver from Vehicle l, indicating there was no attempt by Driver to avoid the collision. 

The probable cause statements provided a glimpse at what Rocco Joseph and Gary LaTurner were doing in the hours before the fatal accident.

Joseph stated earlier in the evening of August 19th, 2023, at approximately 1800 hours he went and worked out for about an hour before leaving to go to Chipotle with friend to eat around 1915-1930 hours. 

Joseph stated he went back to his home, where he watched the end of the second quarter of the Kansas City Chiefs pre-season game. Joseph stated he then went upstairs to play some video games. Joseph stated during playing games he received {a}phone call from {a} friend that wanted to hang out. Joseph stated he took shower and left his residence at approximately 2115 hours and arrived at his friend's house at 2150 hours. 

Joseph stated he just hung out on the couch while {his friend} studied until approximately 2310 hours. Joseph stated he texted his father at that time, telling him he was on his way home.








Information about LaTurner's final hours came from a friend, according to the probable cause statement:

On August 25th, 2023, I was notified through the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office that a woman identified as Katherine Stover was the last person to have had contact with LaTumer just before the crash. 

On August 26th I was able to contact Stover at her residence in Galena, KS. When speaking to Stover, she told me that LaTurner had just left her residence walking towards town at the time of the crash.

When asking Stover about his visit, she told me that LaTurner was acting different that night and was not acting like his normal self. Stover said that LaTurner did not talk much at all during the approximate hour that he spent over at the house. Stover said that they had made dinner while LaTurner was there, but that he did not eat dimer with them like he normally did. 

Prior to leaving the residence, Stover said that they offered LaTumer a ride back to Joplin where he was staying at. She said that LaTumer denied wanting a ride to Joplin, saying that he would rather walk back.

27 comments:

  1. Anonymous10:36 AM

    Worthless bloodline…
    Might have been able to save a man’s life but these scum of the earth, satans trash, had to cover their ass… I hope these 2 people live a long miserable life, and never forget the victims name and his family.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous12:26 PM

    At least Rocco got to take his mid-terms. The kid probably didn't realize he hit a person until he went back with his father. That is something reasonable to believe. However, if the evidence is what it suggests, then the kid and the good Dentist are felons and need punished. It makes me wonder what kind of father would teach their child that this was ok?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous8:33 PM

      The same father who has covered up for a multitude of their children’s crimes throughout the years…

      Delete
    2. Anonymous8:53 PM

      What multitude of crimes? What is your proof?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous9:37 PM

      Well they had a wonderful life and plowing somebody down and leaving them for dead and then dying isn't really what I would call wonderful.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous2:12 PM

    10:36. As much as I agree with your statement the sad truth is they’ve already forgotten. All they’re thinking about now is how to spin this so their rich buddies don’t turn their backs.
    At least it will cost them a fortune in legal bills.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous3:03 PM

    Guilty of some minor plea down. Big money to victim family. Doc and Rocco have a wonderful life.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous3:47 PM

      I'm not sure if their grease will work it's magic in Cherokee County Kansas.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous4:07 PM

      I sure hope your right

      Delete
  5. Anonymous4:26 PM

    Lots of Money and a Good Attorney can make almost anything disappear, just ask the Glades Law Firm.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous4:31 PM

    Gary held on for a long time, laying there, dying slowly. Imagine being conscious for that. Imagine the relief you would feel, when their headlights hit you. Finally! Someone sees you! They're going to help you! But they aren't there to help you. The Joseph's discussed whether Gary's life was worth their reputation, and then decided it wasn't, so they left him while STILL ALIVE, to die alone. He held on for NINE HOURS before he passed. Gary's family has to live with this agony. They deserve justice, and the Joseph's deserve a fate equal to what they decided for the victim that night.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous8:55 PM

      Is there evidence that the man was alive once he was hit? I missed that.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous8:38 PM

      How do you know he wasn’t killled instantly?

      Delete
  7. Anonymous4:53 PM

    3:47. That type of grease works everywhere. Sad but true

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous5:24 PM

      Gary Wayne LaTurner also has influential relatives. Much less likely to go away when that's the case.

      It would be the first small measure of justice if those responsible were crapping bricks when they saw the victim's name.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous6:05 PM

    The link to the probable cause statement does not work.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just removed the link. Apparently, you have to go through the court records site to get to the probable cause statements. I should have checked. Sorry about that.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous6:40 PM

      Can you post screenshots? Some people are probably interested.

      Delete
  9. I don't have access to anything like that.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous8:13 PM

    Unbelievable! They should both be locked up immediately with No Bond. That man may have had a chance to live if they had done the right thing. They are hiding something more. If you aren't drunk and everything is kosher, you would immediately call and report the accident. I hope they both are locked up for at least 20 years. Their actions are despicable.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous5:26 AM

      Criminal psychopaths

      Delete
  11. Anonymous7:30 AM

    Remember What 4:26PM Commented Above - Lots of Money and a Good Attorney can make almost anything disappear, just ask the Glades Law Firm.

    New Released Information - - -

    No attorney has entered an appearance for Doctor Joseph in the criminal case. In September when he was charged, Joplin attorney Phil Glades released a statement saying Doctor Joseph was his client and he looked forward to receiving the “proof” provided by law enforcement officials.

    Can Phil Glades work his Magic and put another Criminal back on the Streets? Time will only tell!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous8:22 AM

    "One minute after the silver Ford Raptor pickup he was driving struck Gary LaTurner, 60, Galena, and continued without stopping, Rocco Joseph called his father, Joplin dentist John Joseph II and talked with him for four minutes, according to a probable cause statement unsealed this morning in Cherokee County District Court."


    Does this mean the Kansas investigators have video of the truck driven by Rocco Joseph striking Gary LaTurner?




    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous8:45 AM

    Phil does not practice in Kansas

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous9:42 AM

    8:45AM - Phil Glades is Licensed in Missouri and Kansas per his Web Site. Admitted to Practice Law in Missouri in 1973 and Kansas in 1974. Money goes a Long Way -

    This is a News Release - Directly from Phil Glades - Joplin attorney Phil Glades released a statement saying Doctor Joseph was his client and he looked forward to receiving the “proof” provided by law enforcement officials.

    I do not believe his Son, Brian Glades or other Attorneys in the Glades Law Office was Admitted to Practice Law in Kansas, but Phil Glades is definitely able to Practice Law in Kansas - he may be handling it until Dr. Joseph can find another attorney.

    His Son, Rocco Joseph, is primarily using attorney Thomas J. Bath, from Leawood, Kansas.

    Attorney Profile
    Phillip A. Glades
    ISLN: 907071905
    Member
    Email: click here to contact

    Practice Areas: Criminal Law; Personal Injury; Automobile Accidents and Injuries; Wrongful Death

    Admitted: 1973, Missouri; 1974, Kansas

    Law School: University of Arkansas, J.D.

    Member: Jasper County Bar Association; The Missouri Bar; The Association of Trial Lawyers of America; Missouri Association of Trial Lawyers.

    Biography: Moderator, Criminal Law Seminar, University of Missouri at Kansas City. Lecturer, Criminal Law and Business Law, Missouri Southern University, 1975-1979.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous11:41 AM

    The drug and alcol tests must have been negative.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous1:27 PM

    Imagine being this demonstrably EVIL.

    ReplyDelete