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.