Agenda posted for Carthage City Council meeting

 

KSNF owner Nexstar's acquisition of TEGNA makes it largest owner of local TV stations in nation

Nexstar Broadcasting, which owns KSNF and manages KODE in Joplin, is on it was to becoming the largest owner of local television stations in the United States.

In a news release Thursday, the company announced it has completed its acquisition of TEGNA, Inc.

Nexstar will now own more than 260 local stations.

From the news release:

Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXST), today announced that it has closed its acquisition of TEGNA Inc. following approval of the transaction from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).

Nexstar’s Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer, Perry Sook commented:

“This transaction is essential to sustaining strong local journalism in the communities we serve. By bringing these two outstanding companies together, Nexstar will be a stronger, more dynamic enterprise—better positioned to deliver exceptional journalism and local programming with enhanced assets, capabilities, and talent. We are grateful to President Trump, Chairman Carr, and the DOJ for recognizing the dynamic forces shaping the media landscape and enabling this transaction to move forward.”

Mark Alford: Save America Act will save America's elections

(By Fourth District Congressman Mark Alford)

America has always been a nation of action, of opportunity, of doing the right thing at the right time. And right now, we are on the edge of our next big act. One that ensures our elections are secure, our voices are heard, and our future stays in the hands of the American people. That next act is the SAVE America Act.

You’ve probably heard a lot about voter ID, proof of citizenship, and election security. Maybe it feels complicated, but here’s the simple truth: Americans overwhelmingly support these commonsense measures. Poll after poll shows that voters of every party — Republican, Democrat, independent — want their elections to be secure. They want confidence that every vote counts, and every vote is LEGAL.

The SAVE America Act is about giving that confidence back to the people. It strengthens voter ID laws, protects against fraud in mail-in voting, and ensures that only eligible citizens can cast ballots. These aren’t partisan gimmicks. These are common-sense rules that protect democracy itself.

And let’s be clear: this is the kind of action that doesn’t suppress participation. People are more willing to vote when they know the process is fair and secure.

We’ve had a front-row seat to elections under stress, and the American people deserve better. They deserve a system they can trust — a system that works, no tricks, no surprises. 

That’s what the Save America Act is about: putting rules in place that secure our elections for the long term.

The Left must stop talking, stop delaying, and pass the SAVE America Act. Let’s make sure the next act in American democracy is one we can all be proud of. Because elections are the heart of our country, and the heart deserves protection.

The curtain is rising, and America’s next act is ours to write.

Let’s get it right!

Kehoe appoints Neosho, Lamar residents to positions

(From Gov. Mike Kehoe)

Today, Governor Mike Kehoe announced six gubernatorial appointments to various boards and commissions and filled two county vacancies.

Margaret Bultas, Ph.D., of Eureka, was reappointed to the Missouri State Board of Nursing.

Ms. Bultas is a professor at Saint Louis University's Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing and previously served as an assistant professor at Barnes-Jewish College. Her research portfolio includes interests involving fostering positive developmental outcomes among high-risk children and their families. Bultas earned both her bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing in Columbia and both her master's degree and doctorate in nursing from the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

Ryan Fullerton, of Lamar, was appointed as the Barton County Coroner.

Mr. Fullerton is the president and chief executive officer of RC Fullerton, LLC, and previously served as the chief operations officer for Equity 4 U, Inc. He served in the United States Army National Guard and received an Army Achievement Medal before being honorably discharged. Fullerton graduated from Diamond High School.

Marty Marler, of Sullivan, was appointed as the Washington County Surveyor.

Mr. Marler is the owner of Marler Surveying Company, Inc. He has more than 40 years of experience in the field and serves as a member of the Missouri Society of Professional Land Surveyors and the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors. Marler is a graduate of Twin Rivers High School.

Julia Murray, of Springfield, was appointed to the Missouri State Board of Nursing.

Ms. Murray currently serves as the senior director of patient care advocacy at LucyRx. She previously worked for Compassus, a home-based care services provider, as their director of virtual care. She is also an active member of the American Medical Informatics Association, the American Nursing Informatics Association, and serves as a board member of the Lost and Found Grief Center. Murray earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing from Jacksonville University and holds a Nursing Informatics Post-Master's Certificate from Vanderbilt University.


Katie Siegel, Ph.D., of California, was appointed to the Missouri Workforce Development Board.

Ms. Siegel currently serves as the director of workforce development for Columbia Public Schools, where she previously served as a transition coordinator. She is a member of several professional and community-based organizations, including the Association for Career and Technical Education, the Columbia Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Missouri Association of Fairs and Festivals. In addition to several state-issued certificates, Siegel holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Central Methodist University, a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Southwest Baptist University, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Indiana State University.

Phillip Slinkard, CPA, of Neosho, was reappointed to the Missouri State Board of Accountancy.

Mr. Slinkard serves as chief financial officer at H.E. Williams, Inc., where he has also been a board member since 2015. He has remained civically involved through several roles, including membership in the Missouri Society of CPAs and the Neosho Economic Development Sales Tax Committee. Slinkard earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from Missouri State University.

Tamara Tateosian, of Fulton, was appointed to the Missouri Workforce Development Board.

Ms. Tateosian currently serves as the chief executive officer of the Callaway Chamber of Commerce and previously worked as the director of operations for the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce. She is active in several professional organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Missouri, the Missouri Economic Development Council, and the Missouri Small Business Development Center. Tateosian earned her Institute of Organization Management Certificate from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and her bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith.

Trisha Turner, of Springfield, was appointed to the State Lottery Commission.

Ms. Turner currently serves as a product solutions consultant for Jack Henry and Associates. She previously served in several leadership roles in banking across southwest Missouri, including serving as president of Lime Bank in Bolivar, chief operations officer at Branson Bank, and chief operations officer at the Bank of Urbana. Turner earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Missouri State University and holds Community Bank Internal Auditor and Certified Banking Security Manager certificates.

 

DNR seeking comments on draft hazardous waste permit modification for International Paper on Range Line

(From Missouri Department of Natural Resources)

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Waste Management Program invites the public to review and offer written comments on a draft hazardous waste permit modification for the International Paper Company until May 4, 2026.

International Paper operated a commercial wood treating facility at the site, located at 2609 Rangeline Road in Joplin. International Paper currently is performing long-term monitoring, maintenance activities and remediation activities at the site under a department-issued Missouri Hazardous Waste Management Facility Part I Permit and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-issued Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments Part II Permit. On June 16, 2025, International Paper submitted a permit modification request to the department, requesting to modify their Part I Permit to remove a 0.48-acre access road from the permit, and to remove 13 semi-volatile organic constituents from the annual monitoring requirements.

After a thorough technical review of the permit modification request, the department prepared a draft Part I Permit Modification for the International Paper facility. The draft permit modification proposes to allow International Paper to remove the 0.48-acre access road from the permit, as well as remove 13 semi-volatile constituents from the annual monitoring requirements.

The permit modification request, draft Part I Permit Modification and a fact sheet are available online at dnr.mo.gov/waste-recycling/what-were-doing/public-involvement/notices-comments. Some supporting documents are not available online due to their file size. The public can review and copy the documents listed above and other supporting documents at the Joplin Public Library, 1901 East 20th Street, Joplin during their normal business hours, or at the department’s Elm Street Conference Center in Jefferson City. To review or obtain copies of the department’s files, please submit a sunshine request at dnr.mo.gov/open-records-sunshine-law-requests.

Comments on the draft permit modification are more effective if they point out legal or technical issues or provide information that is not in the record. Only the conditions being modified are open for public comment. All other conditions of the existing permit will remain in effect for the length of the permit, until the department or International Paper propose another permit modification, or until a new permit is issued. Please send written comments to Abby Sawyer, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, 1390 Timberlake Manor Parkway, Suite 200, Chesterfield, MO 63017, or by email at abby.sawyer@dnr.mo.gov.

During the public comment period, anyone can request a public meeting or public hearing about the draft permit modification. For more information, please contact Abby Sawyer by telephone at 573-526-5397 or 800-361-4827.

You may call or write the department at any time to request to have your name placed on International Paper’s facility mailing list. You will receive written notice from the department or International Paper on any major permitting and cleanup activities at the facility.

For more information about the draft Part I Permit modification, or to obtain a written copy of the draft permit modification for review, please contact Sawyer by telephone at 573-526-5397 or 800-361-4827. Hearing- and speech-impaired individuals may reach Sawyer through Relay Missouri at 800-735-2966.

Goodman man charged with sexual trafficking of a child, statutory sodomy

A Goodman man who allegedly paid $100 to an underage girl 10 to allow him to  sodomize her, has been charged with felonies in Newton and McDonald County.

Matthew James Self (DOB 1993) is charged with sexual trafficking of a child in Newton County and statutory sodomy in McDonald County.

The Newton County acts allegedly occurred in 2016 in Neosho where Matthew James Self (DOB 1993) was living at the time.

The allegations came to light during an interview at the Children's Safety Center in Washington County, Arkansas, according to the Newton County probable cause statement, which was filed Tuesday in Newton County Circuit Court.

The McDonald County probable cause statement, which was filed March 11, also indicated that Self paid the child $100 for anal intercourse. According to the complaint, the alleged crime occurred in 2019 when the child was less than 12 years old.

The child said Self had hidden cameras in the bathroom and had nude photos on his phone of the child and one of her friends as they showered.

The statutory sodomy charge is not the only one the McDonald County Prosecuting Attorney's office has filed against Self.

Self allegedly raped and sodomized his ex-wife numerous times beginning in 2017, according to the probable cause statement.

She claimed Self forced her to drink vodka by "pushing the bottle in her mouth" to the point of intoxication then rape and sodomize while she was drifting in and out of consciousness. This happened once or twice a week for a 6-month period in 2017, she said, including one time in which he used multiple sex toys on her at the same time, the probable cause statement said.

Self is being held without bond in the McDonald County Detention Center.

Joplin man charged with two counts of arson following residential fires at 909 S. Jackson

The Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office charged a Joplin man with two counts of first-degree arson following residential fires March 14 and earlier today at 909 S. Jackson Avenue.

Kirsten Blane Roach (DOB 1979) is being held in the Joplin Municipal Jail on a $25,000 cash-only bond.

From the probable cause statement:

On March 14, 2026, the Joplin Police Department and the Joplin Fire Department responded to 909 S. Jackson Avenue in reference to a structure fire. The Jeffrey L Yeager and Ashley Yeager
victims/resident awoke to smoke inside of their residence. 

Jeffrey Yeager and Ashley Yeager exited their residence and discovered a portion of the residence was on fire. Once the fire was extinguished, the Joplin Fire Department's Fire Marshal responded and determined that the fire had been intentionally set.

On March 20, 2026, the Joplin Police Department and the Joplin Fire Department again responded
to 909 S. Jackson in reference to a structure fire. Jeffrey Yeager and Ashley Yeager were awoke to their house on fire. 

Once the fire was extinguished, the Joplin Fire Marshal responded and determined that the fire had been intentionally set.

The residents provided possible suspect information of Kirsten Roach stating they had been assisting Roach's wife who was planning to separate from Roach. Roach was contacted and denied being involved. 

Roach was found to have access to a red short bed Dodge Ram truck. Businesses in the area of the arson were contacted to attempt to obtain video surveillance during the time of the arson. Video was located in the area of 10th and Sergeant showing a red short bed truck just prior to the fire being set.

Contact was made with Roach who agreed to be interviewed at the Joplin Police Department in
reference to the arsons. After being read Miranda Warning, Roach agreed to answer questions in
reference to the fires. 

Roach initially denied any involvement. Roach, after being confronted with the existence of video evidence, confessed to setting the fire. Roach stated he drove the red truck to the area, walked to the residence with a mason glass containing gasoline, and started the fire.

Roach then admitted to walking to the residence on March 14, 2026, with a backpack that contained
a gas can with gasoline and setting that fire as well. 

Roach stated he set the fires because his wife was in a relationship with the residents and he wanted them to leave his wife alone.

The residence of 909 S. Jackson Avenue was occupied at the time that both fires were set.

Epstein emails mention now-closed SW Missouri ‘troubled teen’ school accused of abuse

By Devin Thomas O'Shea and Samir Knox

Missouri Independent

Ann Rodriquez was looking for a boarding school for her daughter — and in August 2018, she asked Jeffrey Epstein for help.

In an email dated Aug. 7, 2018, Rodriquez — described in the Epstein files as his “island manager” — sent her boss a list of five schools and asked him to weigh in on placing her teenage daughter.

Wedged between options in Orlando and San Diego was one name far from either coast: Wings of Faith Academy, a private Christian boarding school for “troubled girls” in southwest Missouri.

Epstein replied with a quick directive: “check them out, with comments etc. lakeland. orlando missour . first ?”

Rodriquez ultimately chose Piney Woods School for Girls in Mississippi, but Wings of Faith’s appearance in Epstein’s correspondence draws new attention to a Missouri network of faith-based residential boarding schools which have faced years of abuse allegations and prompted lawmakers to adopt limited oversight reforms.

Wings of Faith has been accused by former students of physical and psychological abuse. It also operated alongside Agape Ranch, the now-shuttered boys’ program whose treatment of students drew statewide scrutiny, and it was part of a broader pipeline of private boarding schools that has repeatedly drawn complaints, eluded oversight and prompted piecemeal reforms.

“The troubled teen industry is a hotbed of abuse,” Ryan Fraizer, a Kansas City attorney who specializing in personal injury and sexual abuse cases, told The Independent.. “I’m not surprised to see a Missouri boarding school in this context.”

Over the last five years, Fraizer’s law firm, Monsees & Mayer, has litigated upward of 70 cases against Agape Ranch. Former students at Wings of Faith are calling for litigation.

“Unfortunately,” said Fraizer, because of a lack of oversight or legal protections, “our state is a target for these facilities.”

The founders of Wings of Faith Academy, which closed in 2022 for “health reasons,” could not be reached for comment.

Allegations of abuse

One former student at Wings of Faith was Jordan Evans, who was 15 years old in 2016 when she was taken from her room in Wildwood by a man she didn’t know.

“The transporter took me out of bed early in the morning,” Evans said in a recent interview with The Independent. “He carried a little paper that claimed he had legal guardianship, and said that my mom was following in another car behind ours. I thought I was dreaming so I didn’t ask so many questions.”

Without her knowledge, Evans’ mother had enrolled her in Wings of Faith Academy. Evans’ peers and teachers did not know where she had been taken, and her father, who was living in Ukraine, did not find out about Wings of Faith for months.

Wings of Faith was a militaristic Christian institution, Evans said, with staff patrolling up and down the aisles between beds at night.

“There was a color system,” Evans said. “So if you were cheating you had to wear a green shirt, and didn’t get as much food or water as everyone else, and you had to memorize more scripture.”

Yellow meant more severe rationing and punishment. Grey was worse.

“I was put on grey when I first got there because I tried to run away,” Evans said.

During the attempted escape, Evans says she ended up with nowhere to go, in a field near Agape Ranch, having injured herself on barbed wire.

“I sliced my leg and my hands open pretty good,” she said. “When I got back to the school they made me strip down and hosed me off. They made me pour alcohol all over.”

As punishment for the escape attempt, Evans says she was made to face the wall all day, and could only fill her small water bottle once in the morning.

“They put me on flip flop status so that it was harder to run away,” she said. “You know when you injure your foot and they put that boot on you? I had to wear one of those.”

Wings of Faith Academy was operated by Percy “Bud” Martin II and Debbie Martin. The Kansas City Starreported the Martins started in Tennessee and relocated to at least two other states in order to establish their school in Stockton in 2004, which went through multiple name changes.

Neither responded to a request for comment.

Former students like Evans and those who have testified at legislative hearings over the years have alleged that in addition to enduring abuse, they were also denied medical care.

“They would just give us essential oils,” Evans said. “They thought that would cure everything even if we were all throwing up because we all had a stomach virus.”

Evans’ cohort ranged from 8 to 18 years-old, with many girls coming from foster care.

“We weren’t allowed to talk about our past lives, we weren’t allowed to sing songs or touch each other or braid each other’s hair,” she said. “They timed our showers… I got caught sharing my bras with another girl whose parents weren’t sending her clothes, so they just took all of mine.”

Evans says her six months at Wings of Faith were traumatic, with the school’s attempts at education and reform amounting to increasingly intense forms of abuse.

“There was a fourteen-year-old girl named Molly who had a learning disability,” Evans said. ”She would have outbursts, and night terrors, and so the staff would force her to do jumping jacks for hours and hours.”

Staff from Agape Ranch were common at Wings of Faith, Evans said, and every Sunday, mass was held with both boys and girls classes in the same church. The chairs were turned away from one another to prevent visual contact, but Evans recalls that boys and girls exchanged notes between each other, sometimes hidden in chairs.

In these notes, boys at Agape Ranch communicated that they were being physically abused, Evans said, and made to do excessive manual labor under threat of physical violence.

“Staff members would slam you on the ground,” said Colton Schrag, a former student at Agape. “Slam you into walls, pick you up by the collar and just slam you around. Staff members would jump on you. If you resisted any, they would start kneeing you, hitting you, just mashing your face into the tile or concrete, wherever it was.”

Push for legislative action

Survivors and advocates have pushed lawmakers to take a closer look at Missouri’s network of faith-based residential schools. That pressure helped produce a new law in 2021 requiring certain private schools to register with the state.

But the new framework hasn’t resolved every concern. In 2022, a Cole County judge ruled that Agape director Bryan Clemensen could remain off Missouri’s child-abuse registry. The order barred Clemensen from initiating physical contact with students, but allowed him to keep working at the school.

Wings of Faith, though less widely known than Agape, has also been the subject of complaints from former students. Some have described what they experienced as psychologically damaging, and others have alleged physical mistreatment by the Martins — allegations they have vehemently denied.

A spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Social Services, which handles licensure for boarding schools, told The Independent that Bud Martin was mistakenly listed for at least two years on state records tied to a St. Louis-area boarding school — a school that said it had no connection to him.

The agency said Martin passed a background check, and that Wings of Faith qualified as a license-exempt agency before it shut down.

Evans, the former Wings of Faith student, is now a preschool teacher in the Chicago area.

“Kids aren’t inherently bad,” Evans concluded, “and the boarding school network doesn’t help bad kids become good. It makes them feel bad about themselves. I don’t think any kid is bad. They’re learning.”

With 45 years of advocate experience, including work with the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, Davis Clohessy believes current law is not enough. 

“There have been no appreciable consequences for institutions failing to register with the state,” he said. “I think that measure was significant only in that it was the first tiny step in many steps that are needed.”

More legislation is pending. The Missouri House last week approved legislation that would expand Missouri’s statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims, giving survivors more time to bring civil lawsuits against abusers and institutions, and allow those changes to apply retroactively.

Another bill seeks to create a path to make it easier for unlicensed Christian residential facilities to receive state placements of foster children, drawing criticism from some advocates that it could shelter bad actors from state oversight.

“When any of us face horror,” Clohessy said, “we are usually desperate to find a quick and simple solution, but these kinds of horrors are ongoing and deeply rooted, and there is no silver bullet.”

Nonetheless, he says expanding the statute of limitations is a step in the right direction.

“If you crack that courthouse door open,” Clohessy said, “and you let the victims expose the horror, then a lot can change.”

Joplin man ordered held without bond on federal weapons charge

Mitchell Dean Woods, 34, Joplin, will remain behind bars while awaiting trial on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Judge David P. Rush approved the government's request for detention order during a hearing today in U. S. District Court in Springfield. A grand jury indicted Woods Monday,

According to the indictment, Gibbs was charged for possessing guns November 25, the day the Joplin Police Department arrested him.

Joplin dentist pleads not guilty to weapons charge

Joplin dentist John Joseph pleaded not guilty to unlawful transport of firearms during his initial appearance this morning in U. S. District Court in Springfield.

At Joseph's request, Judge David Rush appointed an attorney to represent him and to help him fill out an affidavit of financial status.

Joseph's detention hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. March 23.

Previous- Dr. John Joseph indicted on weapons charge

James Carter named Seneca Intermediate School principal

(From the Seneca R-7 School District)

We are proud to announce the hiring of James Carter as the new Principal of Seneca Intermediate School, effective August 1.

Mr. Carter currently serves as Assistant Principal at Neosho High School, where he has led efforts in instructional improvement, student support systems, and school culture. In his role, he has partnered with teachers to enhance classroom practices, analyzed student data to support at-risk learners, and implemented effective behavioral and restorative discipline systems. 

His leadership reflects a strong commitment to ensuring success for every student.

Prior to his work in administration, Mr. Carter served as a teacher and coach, where he built and led highly successful soccer programs. His teams earned multiple district championships and received recognition at the state and national levels, highlighting his ability to develop talent, build strong team culture, and lead with purpose.

“We are excited to welcome James Carter to Seneca Schools,” said Superintendent Dr. Brandon Eggleston. “James is a relationship-driven leader who understands how to build a positive school culture focused on learning. His experience supporting students, developing staff, and leading successful programs makes him an excellent fit for our district and our continued commitment to Tradition, Pride, and Class.”

Mr. Carter shared his excitement for joining Seneca Schools: “I am honored to join the Seneca R-7 School District. Seneca’s strong tradition of excellence and commitment to putting students first is evident, and I am excited to work alongside a talented and dedicated team of educators to support student success at Seneca Intermediate.”

Mr. Carter holds an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from Northwest Missouri State University, along with a master’s degree in Health and Human Performance from Pittsburg State University.

The Seneca R-7 School District looks forward to the leadership Mr. Carter will bring as the district continues to focus on high levels of learning for all students.

Monett man charged with four felonies following standoff

A Monett man was charged with domestic assault, kidnapping, endangering the welfare of a child and resisting arrest following a standoff with police Tuesday.

Bond for Jacob Jeffrey Healey (DOB 1994) was set at $100,000 cash only. A bond appearance hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. March 26 in Barry County Circuit Court.

From the probable cause statement:

On this day, units were dispatched to the address listed below for a physical domestic assault that was still occurring. JV1 told dispatch that she could see V1 being assaulted by Jacob Jeffrey Healey.

When we arrived, we could hear V1 yelling for help from inside of the residence. After a short period of time, we were able to get V1 out of the residence. V1 had several lacerations on her head, deep enough to see her skull. 

V1 had a laceration above her eye. V1 had a large amount of blood coming from her head and face. EMS arrived on scene and took V1 to the hospital emergent.

After 47 minutes of Jacob Healey refusing to listen to commands of coming out of the residence, Sgt. Miller deployed one canister of gas into the residence. Jacob Healey finally came out of the residence six minutes later, where we could place him in handcuffs.

I spoke with JV1 who further stated she was at VI's residence when Jacob Healey became mad and put his hands around V1's throat and pinned her "down." JV1 stated she told V1 they should just leave and go to JV1's residence. 

JV1 stated Jacob Healey was "in her face" yelling at her to leave his residence. JV1 stated she was "really really" scared. JV1 stated as V1 began to walk out of her residence, Jacob Healey, pulled her back inside the residence and locked JV1 out. JV1 stated she could hear V1 screaming "I can't breathe". JV1 stated she backed away but was able to see through the window, Jacob Healey, pinning V1 down and hitting her over and over again, up to or over 20 times. JV1 stated she could hear Jacob Healey banging something, to which she believed it was V1's head.

Det. Sgt. Landreth called from the hospital after speaking with V1. Det. Sgt. Landreth stated V1 said Jacob Healey had her face down in the living room, striking the back of her head, before he flipped her over and started striking her in the face. 

V1 said Jacob Healey had his knee placed on her throat. V1 said Jacob Healey took her to the bathroom, and began striking her, possible with an alcohol bottle. V1 said Jacob Healey began slamming her head into the bathtub.

The case was investigated by the Monett Police Department.

Joplin man charged with sexually abusing 5-year-old girl

The Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office filed a first-degree sexual abuse charge Wednesday against a Joplin man who allegedly rubbed a 5-year-old girl's vagina while she was sitting on his lap. 

The incident took place between December 3 and December 8 while Matthew Duane Thompson (DOB 1985) was at a Webb City home.

The child's mother was a witness to the incident, according to the probable cause statement.

An arrest warrant was issued for Thompson with no bond. 

The case was investigated by the Webb City Police Department.

Neosho man charged with kidnapping, aggravated fleeing

A $1,000 bond has been set for a Neosho man who allegedly led Sarcoxie police on a chase with speeds of more than 120 miles per hour with two juveniles in his vehicle.

Samuel Robert Fryar, 19, has been charged in Jasper County Circuit Court with two felonies, aggravated fleeing and kidnapping, and one misdemeanor careless and imprudent driving.

(From the probable cause statement)

On March 17, 2026 at approximately 2328 hours I, Asst. Chief T. Rice, was stopped at the westbound stop sign on Center St at the intersection of 14th St when I observed a gray hatchback traveling northbound on 14th St at a high rate of speed. 

The vehicle covered a significant distance in a very short period of time and was difficult to visually track as it passed in a 35 mph zone.

I attempted to catch up to the vehicle, approaching the intersection of 14th St and High St, the vehicle slow rolled past the posted stop sign and turned westbound onto High St; I activated my emergency equipment, initiating a traffic stop. 

The vehicle began to pull away from me at a high rate of speed passing 16th St. As we approached 17th St (35 mph zone), I observed myself traveling 80 mph as I was still attempting to catch up to the vehicle and the vehicle was still pulling away continuing westbound onto Blackberry Rd (55 mph zone).

We continued westbound on Blackberry Rd. We then turned northbound onto MO-37, westbound onto I-44, accelerating to speeds of 120+ mph. The vehicle continued westbound on I-44 weaving in and out of traffic. We then exited I-44 onto northbound I-49, we exited off I-49, disregarding the posted stop sign, onto eastbound Cedar Rd (45 mph zone), continuing at speeds 90+ mph. 

After passing County Rd 110, the vehicle's lights were then turning off and on until reaching County Rd
100. We then turned southbound onto County Rd 100, disregarded the posted stop sign at Blackberry
Rd. We continued southbound to Newton Rd, disregarded the posted stop sign and turned eastbound,
then southbound onto Reindeer Rd, disregarded the stop sign at Aspen Rd and turned westbound. 

We then approached and crossed MO-59, disregarding the posted stop sign at a high rate of speed. We
continued westbound, turning northbound onto Mallard Dr, disregarded the stop sign at Rt FF (E
32nd St), turned westbound onto E 32nd St (55 mph), speeds ranging 100-110 mph, I requested
Joplin PD to assist, approached I-49 northbound on-ramp, disregarded a red traffic signal and turned
onto the ramp to then take the eastbound on-ramp to I-44, passing a tractor trailer on the single lane
on-ramp. The vehicle had gained significant distance in front of me. 

The vehicle took the Prigmore Rd exit ramp, went around the roundabout to then returned to I-44 eastbound. We continued pursuing at high rates of speed to Exit 22, disregarded the posted stop sign, turned southbound onto County Rd 100, disregarded the posted stop sign at Blackberry Rd and turned eastbound. We continued eastbound back into Sarcoxie city limits on Blackberry Rd (55 mph zone), continuing eastbound on High St (35 mph zone), passed 14th St (entering 45 mph zone), passed 5th St (entering 55 mph zone), crossed I-44 on the bridge to turn northbound onto County Rd 30 (45 mph zone). 

We continued northbound, disregarding the posted stop sign at Dogwood Rd, to then disregard the stop
sign at Hwy F and turned westbound. We continued westbound, crossed MO-37 where spikes were
successfully deployed and deflated the front tires of the vehicle, then traveling off the road into a
field a short distance from the intersection, then stopping. 

The vehicle travelled most of the pursuit at speeds ranging from 80-120+ mph, navigating curves and turns at high rates of speed.

Once the vehicle stopped, Fryar immediately opened the driver door and held up his hands. There
were a total of 4 passengers in the vehicle; 2 adult, 2 juvenile (16 YOM & 17 YOF). All passengers
displayed emotional distress and a few made statements they were in fear of their lives through the
duration of the pursuit and told Fryar to stop multiple times. 

Victim 1 informed me they were on their way back from a party when they then noticed my emergency lights behind them. Victim 1 stated she wanted out of the vehicle but was unable to leave due to the circumstances of not stopping and traveling at high rates of speed, making it unsafe to do so.

Fryar was placed in custody and transported to the Jasper County Detention Center.

 

Carthage man charged with statutory rape

 The Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office filed a statutory rape charge Monday against a Carthage man, who is being held without bond.

According to the complaint, Hoy Richard Bartlett (DOB 1989) had sexual intercourse with an underage girl December 25, 2024,

The probable cause statement indicated the rape was forcible.

(Note: The post has been changed to reflect that Bartlett is a Carthage resident.)

Former Fairview mayor charged with stealing, forgery, official misconduct

One week after Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick released an audit of the city of Fairview claiming former Mayor Peter Janis (DOB 1973) was responsible for more than $10,000 in missing funds, the Newton County Prosecuting Attorney's office has charged Janis with stealing, forgery and official misconduct.

According to the probable cause statement, the auditors provided information in January about what they discovered.

Janis admitted to investigators that he stole the money.

From the probable cause statement:

On May 21, 2024, Fairview city officials reported that funds were missing from the city accounts. The information was provided to the Missouri State Auditor's Office and led to an audit being conducted. 

On January 21, 2026, Newton County Sheriff's Office was made aware of key facts of the audit. The audit determined that $10, 314.23 worth of cash previously paid to the city of Fairview was not
deposited in the bank. 

The records show this occurred over time through multiple deposits between June 2023 and April 2024. Peter Janis was the Mayor of Fairview between April 2023 and April 2024. Mr. Janis started to collect and manage water utility payments after both clerks resigned from their position in June 2023.

On March 10, 2026, I interviewed Mr. Janis after advising him of Miranda Warning regarding the missing water utility funds. Mr. Janis was very reluctant to provide information to my questions and behaved in an uneasy manner. 

Throughout the conversation Mr. Janis avoided eye contact, would take long pauses before providing an answer, and had difficulty composing his answers.

Mr. Janis eventually disclosed to me that he stole the money from the water utility payments. He stated that at the end of the day he would take the deposit bag kept at the city hall, separate the checks, cash, and money orders in the bag. He would complete a new bank deposit slip without the cash and place the
checks, money orders, and new deposit slip in the bag. He would put the bag back and keep the cash. He stated this happened several times and often in different ways, however, this was the general process he used.

Mr. Janis stated that he used the cash for general expenses at home, such as gas, food, and clothing. He told me at times he would return some of the money or pay some back. I asked him if he would be willing to write a statement abouthis involvement. Mr. Janis provided a written statement explaining a portion of
the process and how he repaid some of the cash.

Joplin man to be sentenced for fentanyl trafficking

An 11 a.m. April 29 sentencing hearing is scheduled in U. S. District Court in Springfield for Mitch A. Braun, 27, Joplin, who pleaded guilty October 30 to fentanyl trafficking and possessing weapons in the furtherance of drug trafficking.

The allegations against Braun were detailed in a December 13, 2024 detention motion:

On or about September 6, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the defendant’s hotel room.
Upon execution, law enforcement located in excess of 30 grams of a substance that field tested positive for fentanyl, as well as two firearms, identified as a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm, bearing serial number JHA2274 and a New Frontier G-15 model AR-15 style .223 pistol, bearing serial number NV09121. Law enforcement also located two loaded magazines for each pistol. 

On or about March 5, 2024, law enforcement contacted the defendant in a vehicle following the completion of a controlled buy of fentanyl from the defendant. Upon contacting the defendant, he was detained.

Upon a search of his person incident to arrest, law enforcement located approximately 14.9 grams of a purple powder suspected to be fentanyl in his right front hoodie pocket. This substance was field tested and provided a positive indicator for fentanyl.
Law enforcement also located a blue plastic capsule with a gray rock shape substance that weighed approximately 5.3 grams and was suspected to be heroin. While detained, the defendant spontaneously indicated that the substance was heroin.

In addition to the controlled purchase of fentanyl from the defendant on or about March 5, 2024, law enforcement conducted controlled purchases of small amounts of fentanyl from the defendant on the following dates: (1) on or about February 14, 2023; (2) on or about April 27, 2023; (3) on or about August 29, 2023; (4) on or about February 16, 2024; (5) on or about February 23, 2024; and (6) on or about April 18, 2024.

Sentencing date set for kidnapping that led to Noel woman's murder

 A 9 a.m. May 6 sentencing has been scheduled in U. S. District Court in Springfield for Mahamud Tooxoow Mahamed, who pleaded guilty August 22 to the 2019 kidnapping that led to the murder of Jessica McCormack, 25, Noel, a former Carthage resident.

Several law enforcement agencies contributed to the effort to bring Mahamed to justice, something that became apparent in the detailing of the case in the plea agreement, which was filed August 22.

From the plea agreement:

On July 16, 2019, law enforcement officers with the Noel, Missouri Marshal's Office contacted Jessica McCormack and her three children at 229 Main Street, Noel Missouri, McCormack's three children were identified as 4-year-old Jane Doe, 2-year-old Jane Doe 2 and 6-month-old Jane Doe 3.

McCormack called 9-1-1 on July 16, 2019 at 7:01 a.m. and stated that the defendant, Mahamud Tooxoow Mahamed, her paramour, had held her at knife point and tried to force her to have sexual intercourse with him. McCormack repeatedly reported to the 9-1-1 operator that she was worried that Mahamed will harm her three children who were in the apartment with him.

McCormack noted that she was outside and needed to go back into the apartment for her children's sake, but the 9-1-1 operator asked her to remain outside to guide arriving law enforcement.

McCormack told the 9-1-1 operator that Mahamed had a knife and had more knives in the apartment. Near the end of the call, McCormack stated that Mahamed had come outside and was with her.

McCormack was heard stating, "Tito, I just did it for your own good," and then she said, "He's going to go up, Tito, stop. Please don't. He's going upstairs to the kids now, come on."

McCormack was overheard screaming, "Tito, stop, Tito, my kids, Tito stop!"

Officers contacted McCormack in scene and Mahamed was observing fleeing the apartment. This was the last time, McCormack was observed alive and the last time anyone reported observing the Jane Does in Missouri.

On July 16, 2019, Megan Bailey went to McCormack's apartment but could not locate McCormack or her girls. Bailey knocked on the door and could hear noise, but no one came to answer the door.

On July 16, 2019, at 9:34 p.m. Bailey called the Missouri Social Services Children's Division Hotline to report a safety concern. Bailey reported that she went to pick up McCormack's children, but when she knocked on the door, no one answered.

On the following day, July 17, 2019, Bailey returned to the apartment again and when Bailey knocked on the door, no one answered.
On July 17, 2019, at 1:14 p.m., Kendra Baker called McDonald County Missouri 9-1-1 dispatch to report that she had been unable to contact McCormack since July 16, 2019. Baker stated she was in Jefferson City, Missouri, but she had not been able to contact McCormack via phone.

The last time Baker spoke with McCormack was on the morning of July 16, 2019. Noel Police Department Marshal Randy Wilson was dispatched to McCormack's apartment at 1:19 p.m.; however, no one answered the door. On July 17, 2019, Children's Division case worker Angela Bridges responded to McCormack's apartment to make contact, but no one answered the door.

On July 18, 2019, Ms. Bridges returned to McCormack's apartment and Sarah (Faust) Ritter answered the door. Ritter stated that McCormack and Mahamed were no longer living at the apartment and she did know where they were.

On July 19, 2019, the McDonald County, Missouri Sheriff's Office received a report of a deceased body that was located off of Missouri Highway 59 between Lanagan, Missouri and Noel, Missouri.

The reporting party, G. H. reported he observed a pink suitcase with feet sticking out in a ditch on the roadside. Corporal B. Ernest responded to the scene and G. H. pointed out where the suitcase was.

Upon inspection, Cpl. Ernest located a pink suitcase with a decomposed body. The deceased female was located in a partially unclothed state next to the suitcase. She had a pink tank top on that was pushed up to her shoulder area. The head was severely decomposed with no skin on it. The body and the suitcase were in a ditch next to a bluff hidden from the highway and passing traffic by tall grass.

It appeared that the suitcase had fallen from the bluff and the zipper had been ripped. The deceased was later identified by DNA analysis to be McCormack.

On approximately July 28, 2019 or July 29, 2019, Rahma Ahmed, the defendant's cousin, received a phone call from Mahamed. Mahamed told her he was bringing his other three daughters to her in Minnesota. When Ahmed asked why he was bringing the girls, Mahamed noted that something bad had happened and he could be in trouble.

On August 1, 2019, Mahamed and the Jane Does arrived at Habiba Muse's residence in Rochester, Minnesota. Mahamed told Muse that he and the Jane Does had nowhere to go, so Muse gave Mahamed $50 to help with the Jane Does.
Mahamed and the Jane Does went back to Muse's residence on August 3, 2019. Muse stated that Mahamed tried to leave the Jane Does with her. Mahamed stated he and the kids would have to sleep at the bus top, so Muse gave him $100 so they would have somewhere to stay. Muse gave them a ride to a motel and Mahamed checked in around 12 a.m. at a Super 8.

Rochester, Minnesota police officers responded to the Super 8. The motel manager provided a copy of the surveillance footage from August 4, 2019 and a copy of Mahamed's driver's license he provided at check in.

In the video, Mahamed was observed checking in with Muse at approximately 12:36 a.m. on August 4, 2019. Mahamed is seen checking out the next day at approximately 11 a.m. and the children are visible on the footage.

On August 8, 2019, the Jane Does were recovered at Malyun Koliso's residence in Des Moines, Iowa. Koliso reported that on August 5, 2019, Mahamed arrived at her residence with the Jane Does between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Koliso reported that on August 8, 2019, at approximately 4 a.m., she awoke to the children crying. When she got out of bed, she discovered that Mahamed was not in the residence. Koliso stated that she found a note from Mahamed informing her that he could not care for the children and had left.

Ritter later reported to law enforcement that Mahamed had told her McCormack left with the kids and he did not know where they had gone. Mahamed told Ritter that she could stay in the Noel apartment. Ritter stated that she saw Mahamed every day from the time she returned to the apartment on July 18, 2019 to McCormack's body being located on July 29, 2019.

Facebook messages between Mahamed and Ritter corroborated her statements. Additionally, Ritter noted that after McCormack's body was located, she began asking Mahamed where the Jane Does were via Facebook Messenger messages, both text and voice messages.

On August 7, 2019, Ritter asked Mahamed if he knew where the Jane Does were and if they were okay. To that, Mahamed sent a voice message through Facebook Messenger stating

Sweetheart, I'm trying to find them all. Uh, like cops don't know, nobody knows. They're talking about f---ing, they think that, uh, the lady in the suitcase is her. I, they're saying all kinds of different things. I'm just hoping and praying that my kids and wife are good. They're safe. And I'm trying to, trying to find them. Please keep trying to find her. I text her. I said please everybody is trying to help you, nobody is against you. If you're, if you're safe that's all we want to know. I, nobody even wants to know where you at, it's just the safety of her and the kidsis what everybody is worried about, so.

Mahamed continued to send messages to Ritter stating he hoped his kids are okay and he sent a message on August 8, 2019, asking Ritter, "who the f--- has m y kids?" Law enforcement also located messages sent by Mahamed using the same account to an account that had been utilized by McCormack.

On August 7, 2019 at 4:51 p.m., Mahamed sent a message stating, "Hey, Jess please me tell me you are ok and the kids are too and please answer everybody is trying to know if you are ok please let me know bae I'm worried sick here.'

Sometime in or after August 2019 and before September 19, 2019, Mahamed left the United States and began residing in Guatemala. Mahamed was located by Guatemalan law enforcement and on July 27, 2021, he was expelled by the Guatemalan government.
On July 27 2021, FBI Special Agent Cameron Heath and Special Agent Doug McKelway accepted custody of Mahamed at the La Aurora International Airport and transported him back to the United States.

On August 14, 2019, McDonald County Sheriff's Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Stacy Moore executed a search warrant for various locations including a Buick LeSabre that was identified to be a vehicle used by Mahamed and McCormack.

FBI Emergency Response Team processed the Buick. From the Buick, FBI recovered 22 items, including a bag of clothing smelling like ammonia. The clothing had blood stains on them that tested presumptive positive for blood. The trunk's carpeted area also tested positive for blood. All items from the vehicle were sent to the FBI lab in Quantico for testing.

On February 11, 2022, Erica Ames with the FBI Laboratory DNA support unit concluded her DNA analysis. A cardboard sign from a trash bag in the trunk of the Buick LeSabre had a bloodstain right near the right edge of the sign.

The DNA profile obtained from the bloodstain was 69 billion times more likely if it originated from McCormack than any other individual. The trash bag the sign was located in had a blood stain on the outside. The DNA profile was 10 sextillion times more likely if McCormack was a contributor.

A bra inside the plastic trash bag had a bloodstain on the inside right side. The DNA profile was 3.3 sextillion times more likely if McCormack was a contributor.

On January 20, 2023, SA Moore contacted Eric Hudson and interviewed him in Noel. Hudson advised that he previously worked at the African Store in Noel, Missouri. Hudson worked there for a few years until it closed on December 28, 2020.

Hudson performed various duties, including working the cash register. Hudson stated that a lot of the merchandise in the store came from Minneapolis. Employees would travel to Minneapolis to bring the items to Noel. Other merchandise came from overseas, such as China and Turkey.

SA Moore asked Hudson if he knew Mahamed and Hudson stated he did. Hudson stated McCormack was Mahamed's girlfriend. Hudson recalled Mahamed purchasing a pink suitcase from him at the African Store. Hudson could not recall the exact date, but knew it was purchased prior to McCormack's body being discovered. Hudson stated the suitcase had rollers and a handle. Hudson pulled up a picture of a similar suitcase on the internet and showed it to SA Moore. Hudson distinctly recalled Mahamed purchased the last suitcase in inventory and Mahamed paid $60 cash for the suitcase. Hudson stated it was the same color and style as the suitcase he sold Mahamed.

A short time after selling the suitcase to Mahamed, Hudson recalled Mahamed was having trouble starting his van. Hudson tried to help Mahamed and told him he needed a new ignition switch for the van. Hudson recalled Mahamed acting desperate during this encounter.

On January 25, 2023, SA Moore contacted Luul Ahmed, who reported she was the owner of the African Stores in Noel, Minneapolis, Sioux City, South Dakota and Skylar, Nebraska. Luul Ahmed confirmed that the store in Noel had closed. Luul Ahmed reported she was responsible for procuring all the products sold in her stores. Luul Ahmed recalled selling suitcases in the Noel store and stated she purchased them from a vendor in Los Angeles, California.

New report says lawsuit abuse driving up insurance costs

(From Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance)

A new report issued by the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance warns that lawsuit abuse is driving up insurance costs across the state, placing a growing financial burden on Missouri families, businesses and essential service providers while also jeopardizing economic activity.

The report finds that social inflation – defined as the increase in the severity of insurance claims beyond what can be explained by purely economic factors – has outpaced economic inflation in recent years, creating mounting pressure on insurers and policyholders alike. 

“Missouri families are already feeling the impact of rising insurance costs, and lawsuit abuse is only worsening the problem,” DCI Director Angela Nelson said. “When litigation tactics push awards far beyond reasonable damages, those costs don’t just disappear – they show up in higher premiums for consumers and businesses across the state.”

From 2017 to 2022, social inflation increased by 5.4% annually, compared to 3.7% for economic inflation, according to Swiss Re data cited in the report. In Missouri alone, the economic toll is substantial. The Perryman Group estimates that excessive litigation results in a “tort tax” of $1,216 for each Missourian, contributing to $7.6 billion in lost economic output and $384 million in lost state revenue each year.

The report highlights several practices contributing to rising litigation costs, including third-party litigation funding, in which outside investors finance lawsuits in exchange for a share of potential damages, as well as courtroom strategies designed to influence juries and encourage exceptionally large damage awards.

These pressures are already being felt throughout Missouri’s insurance market: 63% of foster care providers report difficulty obtaining liability coverage, and 67% have seen premium increases exceeding 50%.  

Homeowners insurance premiums are rising at 8-12% annually.  

Medical malpractice rates have increased for six consecutive years, with Missouri among 16 states experiencing hikes above 10%.  

Nationwide, private passenger auto liability has produced $43 billion in underwriting losses, and Missouri insurers have filed for double-digit rate increases in recent years.

Social inflation has largely eroded the benefits of past legislative reforms in Missouri, and St. Louis remains ranked as the sixth-worst “Judicial Hellhole” in the nation for 2025–2026, highlighting ongoing challenges in the state’s litigation environment.

“If these trends continue, Missourians and businesses will continue to see higher premiums, have fewer insurance options, and suffer broader economic consequences,” Director Nelson said. “Without meaningful reforms, the impact of lawsuit abuse will continue to grow, and all Missourians will ultimately pay the price through higher insurance premiums.”

The report points to reforms adopted in Florida and Georgia as potential models for Missouri, where both states have seen greater market stability, increased participation from insurance carriers, and improved conditions in several insurance lines.

“Missouri has an opportunity to act before the problem worsens,” Director Nelson added. “Strategic reforms that promote fairness and transparency in the legal system will stabilize the insurance market, protect consumers, and strengthen Missouri’s economy.”

To view the full report on DCI’s website, click here. DCI is charged with protecting Missouri consumers through oversight of the insurance industry, banks, credit unions, utilities and various professional licensees operating in the state. For more information about the department, please visit our website at dci.mo.gov.