Webb City man allegedly beat girlfriend while she was driving on Rangeline

The Newton County Prosecuting Attorney's office filed a felony child abuse charge against a Webb City man who allegedly beat his 16-year-old girlfriend while she was driving on Rangeline Sunday.

A warrant was issued today for the arrest for Noah Duley, 18, with bond set at $3,500 cash or surety. A condition of the bond is that Duley is to have no contact with the alleged victim.

The alleged crime began in the parking lot at Freeman West Hospital with Duley "slapping, punching and slapping" the girl, according to the probable cause statement.

From the statement:

V1 left the parking lot of Freeman Hospital and began traveling east bound on W 32nd Street and then to S Range Line Road. W 32nd Street is a four-lane highway with a turning center lane. The speed limit is 40 mph with moderate to heavy traffic during the day. S Range Line Road is a four-lane road with a center turning lane in some areas and a raised concrete median in other areas. 

While V1 was driving, Noah continued to strike V1 with an open hand to the right-side of her face. V1 advised some strikes were forceful enough that her head would then strike the driver-side window. V1 would “black-out” at times while driving due to the force of strikes from Noah.  

V1 feared crashing so she pulled off the roadway on S Range Line Road. 

V1 is a 16-year-old juvenile. Noah and V1 are boyfriend / girlfriend and involved in a romantic relationship

Josh Hawley, Lucas Kunce make final TV ad buys in Missouri U.S. Senate race

By Rudi Keller

Missouri Independent

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Lucas Kunce closed out his campaign with four days of television ads costing $366,000 while incumbent Republican Josh Hawley is making his final argument with $325,000 of ads during Monday night’s Kansas City Chiefs game.

Kunce and Hawley are the only candidates in a statewide election who have been airing broadcast ads continually since the August primary. Tracking by The Independent shows Hawley’s campaign has spent $5.5 million on broadcast ads, with a PAC called Show Me Strong adding $2.7 million to his quest for a second term. Kunce has spent $7.7 million on broadcast ads, with a PAC called Patriots Prevail expending $373,000.

Hawley has spent almost $26 million since taking office in 2019 to retain his seat. Of that amount, $15.5 million has been spent since the start of 2023, when Kunce began his campaign. The Democrat has spent $20 million to unseat Hawley, including more than $2 million on digital messaging.

For the final 10 days of the campaign, Hawley outspent Kunce on broadcast ads, with about $971,000 in television and radio spots compared to $854,000 for the Democrat. Kunce will have more ads aired because he did not buy many ads on Monday night, where a single 30-second spot cost Hawley as much as $50,000, depending on the market.

It is a far different campaign from the 2018 election where Hawley defeated incumbent U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill. That year, Hawley and McCaskill combined to spend about $50 million, with about $39 million raised and spent by McCaskill. Outside groups spent $76 million more, according to the campaign finance tracking site Open Secrets.

Voters have one more day of “no excuse absentee” voting on Monday before polls open at 6 a.m. Tuesday. Polls close at 7 p.m. and anyone in line by 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

Voters must have a non-expired Missouri or federally-issued identification with their photo and birthdate.

To be sure of where to vote, go to the secretary of state’s website where you can check your registration and also see a sample ballot.

Along with the U.S. Senate race, every voter will have five other statewide contests on their ballot – governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer and attorney general. Except for the Republican nominee for governor, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, and the Democratic contender, state Rep. Crystal Quade, the statewide campaigns have been virtually invisible on television. Kehoe purchased just under $1 million of broadcast ads that ran during the final two weeks of the campaign and Quade has put about $750,000 worth of ads on the air.

Every voter will have six statewide ballot questions to go along with the six statewide candidate campaigns. While statewide candidates haven’t had the cash to go on the air, the campaigns to convince voters to approve Amendment 2 for sports wagering, legalize abortion with Amendment 3 and approve an increase in the minimum wage on Proposition A have spent more than $100 million.

The committee backing Amendment 2, Winning for Missouri Education, raised $40.8 million, a record for a ballot measure campaign. Backers of abortion rights, Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, will also break the previous record of $31 million, set in 2006, when the final accounting is made on the campaign.

The effort to defeat Amendment 3 was boosted by a late contribution of $1 million from The Concord Fund, a group associated with conservative activist Leonard Leo. The Vote No On 3 used the funds to boost a late television campaign in the St. Louis and Kansas City markets.

Every voter in the state also has a vote for the lawmaker for their district in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Missouri House. The 2nd Congressional District is the only one with a challenger airing broadcast ads against the incumbent, with Democrat Ray Hartmann, one of Missouri’s best known political commentators, challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner.

While most of the 163 MIssouri House districts are also considered non-competitive between the parties — there are 53 seats where no one filed from the opposition party — there are a handful of contests that will determine if the GOP can maintain its supermajority of more than two-thirds of the seats.

Every voter will also have two Missouri Supreme Court judges, Kelly Broniec and Ginger Gooch, on their ballots for retention votes. If voters approve the appointments, each will have 12-year terms before they are on the ballot again.

Joplin City Council meeting canceled due to possibility of severe weather

(From the City of Joplin)

The National Weather Service has forecast severe weather for Joplin and the surrounding area this evening. Due to the elevated risks, tonight’s Joplin City Council meeting has been rescheduled until Monday, November 11.

“Due to impending chances for severe weather, the City Council meeting scheduled for tonight, November 4, has been rescheduled to next Monday, November 11,” said Joplin Mayor Keenan Cortez. 

“I believe this best serves the citizens and staff. I apologize for the inconvenience this causes to all involved but also believe it is best to be cautious based on current information from reliable weather sources.”

On Monday, November 11, the Informal Council meeting will begin at 5:15 p.m., and the City Council meeting will be held at 6 p.m. The meeting will be in the Council Chambers on the fifth floor of City Hall, 602 South Main Street.

Revised agendas for both meetings will be posted on Thursday on the City Council’s page on Joplin’s website

Fourth judge to be assigned to former Carthage mayor's case, Crane recuses

For the third time in three days, a Jasper County judge has passed along former Carthage Mayor Dan Rife's petition for a writ of prohibition to keep him in office.

Division I Judge Gayle Crane recused herself Friday, according to Jasper County Circuit Court online records. She followed in the footsteps of Dean Dankelson and David Mouton who recused Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.

A new judge will be assigned.

Rife was impeached on four of five counts Tuesday by 6-2 margins. 

His attorney, Christopher Thornton, says the city code requires two-thirds of the number of elected council members, which should be 7 since Carthage elects 10 council members, but two, Dustin Edge and David Armstrong, resigned.

Go Fund Me page created for expenses of Seneca mother killed saving her sons on Halloween

 

A Go Fund me page has been created for the family of Vidalia Marie Boyer, 20, Seneca, the mother of two, who was killed in a car-pedestrian accident Thursday night in Granby.

At this writing, $3,900 from 57 donations has been raised to cover the costs of her funeral, headstone and to provide for her sons, ages 3 and 1.

The goal is $10,000.

The fundraiser was launched by Megan Boyer, who described the reason for it on the Go Fund Me page.

Vidalia Marie Boyer, 20 years old. Born November 26, 2003. She has two sons, Lucian Lane, 3, and Archer Dale, 1 year old. They were her livelihood. Vidalia was sweet and had a gentle free spirit. On Halloween, while trick-or-treating with her boys, a vehicle was headed in their direction. Vidalia acted swiftly and tossed her sons toward the ditch, saving them and tragically losing her life as a result.

Fundraiser by Megan Roark : Honor Vidalia by donating towards her burial & her headstone

Joplin Globe editor: I no longer believe we should make presidential endorsements

The Joplin Globe hasn't endorsed anyone for president since 2016, according to a column in today's paper by Editor Andy Ostmeyer, and it doesn't plan to do so this year.

I won't place a link to the article since it's behind a pay wall, but Ostmeyer reviews the Globe's checkered history of endorsing presidential candidates, which includes never endorsing Franklin D. Roosevelt and choosing Thomas Dewey over Harry S. Truman in 1948, and notes the Globe endorsements don't look so great in retrospect.

Oddly, Ostmeyer fails to mention what many of his readers think was the worst presidential endorsement- the Globe's 2008 stamp of approval for Barack Obama.

Sixteen years have passed since that editorial, but I still see people cursing the Globe for that endorsement and saying that was when they dropped their subscriptions. Others have said it was the beginning of the slow, torturous downfall of the newspaper, which in recent years has since a shrinking of its news coverage and coverage area, the loss of approximately 75 percent of its subscriptions, and its reduction of its reporting staff to a skeleton crew.

I don't agree with that assessment. While the Obama endorsement did cause some readers to drop their subscriptions, the Globe's problems began years before, with owners who made the decision to begin charging grieving families for obituaries, as well as charging for wedding announcements, engagements, anniversaries and birth announcements.

The Globe also suffered from the disease of chain ownership, which has dealt the death knell for many newspapers, including the Carthage Press. Instead of adding value to their product, chain ownership has consistently increased profit margin through cuts, something that inevitably weakens the product.

Getting back to presidential endorsements, if memory serves correctly, whether it was disappointment in President Obama's first four years or an aversion to losing more readers, the Globe reversed course in 2012 and endorsed Mitt Romney.

Ostmeyer's article says the Globe's final endorsement came in 2016.

Does anyone out there remember if the Globe endorsed Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton?

Is the Tiffany Cossey recall happening because she's a woman?

In one of a series of YouTube videos, Carthage City Councilwoman Tiffany Cossey has posted in the final days before next Tuesday's recall election, she says she has been asked if the recall election is happening because she's a woman.

She opens and closes the three-minute video by saying she doesn't know.

During the rest of the video, however, she makes the case that it is and throws one of her three fellow city councilwomen under the bus.

"We know that men who are generally intimidated by women when they can't make them submit do tend to resort to anger. They exhibit a lot of anger. We have certainly seen our fair share of that at City Council meetings."

As examples of this anger, Cossey noted that one man had threatened another councilwoman Jana Schramm, referring to an incident in which the man told Schramm she was "next," and referred to another man who stood up and talked at a council meeting during the summer, spoke "very angrily" and "He was the subject of a restraining order by one of his many former wives."

"So is there anger involved? Yes, there is."

After that she turned her attention to Councilwoman Lori Leece.

"And those same people tend to support the one female City Council member we have who's very meek and mild and timid.

"So they do seem to have a type that they prefer."

At that point, she turns her attention to the three people who are no longer with the city, just impeached Mayor Dan Rife, former City Administrator Greg Dagnan and former City Attorney Nate Dally and notes that they're all men.

"Whether or not they closed ranks and it was the He-Man Woman Hater's Club, I don't know. but again you know there's some food for thought there.

"It makes other people wonder. It makes me start to wonder."

In conclusion, Cossey says she doesn't know if the recall is related to her gender, but "if they've chosen to target me because I'm female and if they think that they can make me submit or that they can intimidate me, they have definitely chosen the wrong woman for that."

Agenda posted for Joplin City Council meeting

JOPLIN CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2024
5th FLOOR COUNCIL CHAMBERS
602 S. MAIN ST. JOPLIN MO
6:00 P.M.

1.

Call to Order

Invocation
Pledge of Allegiance of the United States of America

2.

Roll Call

3.

Presentations

4.

Finalization of Consent Agenda

5.

Reports and Communications

1.

News from the Public Information Office

6.

Citizen Requests and Petitions

1.

Shawnya Fisher requested to speak on Bias and unlawful acts by the city prosecutor judge and other City entities that has caused me great damage financial and emotional.

2.

Luke Gibson requested to speak on Memorial Hall

3.

Jill Halbach requested to speak on Memorial Hall

7.

Public Hearings

1.

Public Hearing Procedures

Documents:

1. PUBLIC HEARING PROCEDURES.pdf

2.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2024-284

AN ORDINANCE amending Ordinance No. 2022-274, passed by the Council of the City of Joplin, Missouri, August 1, 2022, by removing from District R-1 (Single-Family Residential) and including in District C-1 PD (Neighborhood Commercial – Planned Development) property as described below and located at 2517 E 20th St.

Documents:

1. 284 Summary.pdf
2. 284App.pdf
3. 284Map.pdf
4. 24-284 Minutes.pdf
5. 284Report.pdf
6. CB2024-284.pdf

3.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2024-285

AN ORDINANCE providing to vacate a utility easement, lying on property described as 1403 E Valley St, City of Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri. Requested by Ledford Construction. (Planning and Zoning Commission recommend approval).

 

Documents:

1. 2024-285 Summary.pdf
2. 285Report.pdf
3. 285Exhibit.pdf
4. 285App.pdf
5. 031-24minutes.pdf
6. 2024-285 Updated Map.pdf
7. CB2024-285.pdf

4.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2024-287

AN ORDINANCE providing to vacate a sewer easement, lying on property described as 2128 S Maiden Ln, City of Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri. Requested by KC DT LLC. (Planning and Zoning Commission recommends approval).

Documents:

1. 2024-287 Summary.pdf
2. 287Report.pdf
3. 287App.pdf
4. 287 Map.pdf
5. 287 Easement.pdf
6. 032-24minutes.pdf
7. CB2024-287.pdf

5.

RESOLUTION NO. 2024-016

A RESOLUTION granting a Special Use Permit (1st Request) for the operation of a Home Beauty Salon, located at 2805 N Highland Ave, City of Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri. Requested by Chun Curtiss. (Planning and Zoning recommends approval). 

Documents:

1. Resolution 2024-016 Summary.pdf
2. RS016App.pdf
3. RS016Map.pdf
4. RS016minutes.pdf
5. RS016Report.pdf
6. RS2024-016.pdf

8.

Consent Agenda

1.

Minutes of the October 21, 2024, City Council Meeting

Documents:

1. Oct. 21, 2024 minutes.pdf

2.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2024-004

AN ORDINANCE approving the Real Estate Contract by and between the City of Joplin, Missouri, a Municipal Corporation, and Vita Nova Village, for the sale of one parcel located at 1201 S. Byers Avenue, Joplin, Missouri, and authorizing the City Manager to execute the same by and on behalf of the City of Joplin.    

Documents:

1. CB2024-004.pdf

3.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2024-137

AN ORDINANCE approving the issuance of a Purchase Order to Brentwood Industries, Inc., in the amount of Four Million Four Hundred Ninety Thousand Eight Hundred Seventy-Four and 00/100 DOLLARS ($4,490,874.00) for the purchase, delivery and installation oversight of Trickling Filter Media for (2) West Towers and (2) East Towers at Turkey Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility; and, setting a date when this ordinance shall become effective.

Documents:

1. CB2024-137.pdf

4.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2024-517

AN ORDINANCE authorizing the City of Joplin to enter into an Economic Development Services Agreement with the Joplin Regional Alliance for Healthcare and Health Science (JRAH) for the purpose of fostering healthcare and health-related business growth and economic development; and, authorizing the City Manager to execute said Agreement by and on behalf of the City of Joplin, Missouri.               

                                                

Documents:

1. CB2024-517.pdf

5.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2024-623

 AN ORDINANCE authorizing the City of Joplin, Missouri, to enter into a Purchase Order with Minuteman Press, a Missouri Corporation of Chesterfield, Missouri, for printing the 2024 Joplin History Guide in the amount of Eighteen Thousand Two Hundred and Ninety dollars ($18,290.00) and authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute the same on behalf of the City of Joplin.

Documents:

1. CB2024-623.pdf

6.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2024-625

 AN ORDINANCE approving a Contract by and between the City of Joplin and Satterlee Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, in the amount of Four Hundred and Thirty-Nine Thousand Three Hundred Five Dollars and No Cents ($439,305.00) for the Joplin Historical and Mineral Museum HVAC upgrades; authorizing the City Manager to execute said Contract by and on behalf of the City of Joplin.

Documents:

1. CB2024-625.pdf

9.

Resolutions

1.

RESOLUTION NO. 2024-017

A RESOLUTION authorizing the submittal of application for 2024 Historic Preservation Fund grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Documents:

1. 2024-017 Resolution Summary.pdf
2. 2024-017 Attachments.pdf
3. Res 2024-17 North Heights Survey Grant.pdf

2.

RESOLUTION NO. 2024-019

A RESOLUTION authorizing the AMENDING of two One Year Action Plans with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as required for use of the City of Joplin’s Community Development Block Grant Program (Entitlement) and the Joplin Consortium HOME Investment Partnership Program for program years 2021 & 2022; and authorizing the City Manager to execute said Plans for and on behalf of the City of Joplin.

Documents:

1. 2024-019 Resolution Summary.pdf
2. Res 2024-19 Council Attachments.pdf
3. Resolution 2024-019.pdf

3.

RESOLUTION NO. 2024-020

A RESOLUTION    approving a request for the reappointment of two members of the Board of Directors for the 32nd Street Place Community Improvement District.

Documents:

1. Resolution 2024-020 Summary 32nd Street Place CID Board Appointments.pdf
2. Resolution 2024-020 CID Board Appointments 32nd Street.pdf

4.

RESOLUTION NO. 2024-021

A RESOLUTION    approving a request for the appointment of two members of the Board of Directors of the Northpark Lane Community Improvement District.

Documents:

1. Resolution 2024-021 Summary Northpark Lane CID Board Appointment.pdf
2. Resolution 2024-021 Northpark Lane CID Board Appointment.pdf
3. Resolution 2024-021 Letter to City of Joplin - Appointment of Directors.pdf

10.

Ordinances - Emergency

1.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2024-519

AN ORDINANCE    approving a Contract by and between the City of Joplin and Berkley to provide stop loss coverage for the City’s health self-insurance coverage on behalf of the employer, the City of Joplin; authorizing the City Manager to execute said Contract by and on behalf of the City of Joplin; and containing an emergency clause.    

Documents:

1. CB 2024-519 Summary Health Insurance Stop Loss Contract.pdf
2. CB 2024-519 Ordinance Health Insurance Stop Loss Contract Agreement.pdf
3. CB 2024-519 Exhibit A Stop Loss Agreement.pdf

11.

Ordinances - First Reading

1.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2024-149

AN ORDINANCE approving an agreement with Jeff Asbell Excavating & Trucking Inc. in the amount of Four hundred thirty-four thousand, three hundred ninety-three dollars and 18/100 DOLLARS ($434,393.18) for Cox Avenue Stormwater Improvements and authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute the same by and on behalf of the City of Joplin.

Documents:

1. CB 2024-149 Cox Ave Box Culvert and Paved Ditch Improve Summary (7).pdf
2. CB 2024-149 Cox Ave Box Culvert and Paved Ditch Impve Ordinance (5).pdf
3. CB 2024-149 Cox Ave Box Culvert Bid Summary.pdf
4. CB 2024-149 Cox Ave Box Culvert Contractors Agreement (1).pdf
5. CB 2024-149 Cox Ave Box Culvert Project Area Map (1).pdf

2.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2024-150

AN ORDINANCE approving a consultation agreement with TransPro Consulting LLC. in the not to exceed amount of Three Hundred and Four Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty-nine dollars and Fifty-Two Cents ($304,859.52) to provide evaluation, planning and implementation services and the feasibility of a regional transportation authority for the City of Joplin Transit system.  and authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute the same by and on behalf of the City of Joplin; and setting a date when this Ordinance shall become effective.

Documents:

1. AoPP CB2024-150 Summary (1).pdf
2. AoPP CB2024-150 Transit FTA RFP 9.3.24_1.pdf
3. AoPPCB2024-150TransPro.pdf
4. AoPP CB2024-150 Overall summary scores.pdf
5. AoPP CB2024-150 Consultant Agreement.pdf
6. CB No. 2024-150.pdf

3.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2024-516

AN ORDINANCE    amending Section 2.01A, Applications and Fees, Article 2, Procedures, of the Joplin Development Code, Appendix 29A as adopted by Ordinance No. 2022-119 of the City of Joplin and enacting in lieu thereof an amended Section 2.01A, Applications and Fees, Article 2, Procedures, of the Joplin Development Code, Appendix 29A; and, enacting Section 94-100, Application Fees, Article V, Permits and Fees, of Chapter 94, Planning, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Joplin to implement certain fee changes; and setting a date when this Ordinance shall become effective.

Documents:

1. CB 2024-516 Summary Planning Code Fee Changes.pdf
2. CB 2024-516 Planning Fee Changes.pdf
3. CB 2024-516 Streetlight Memo.pdf

4.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2024-624

AN ORDINANCE approving a Purchase Order to be issued to Superion to cover the annual support payment for the financial software and related systems as budgeted in the Annual Budget of the City of Joplin for the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 as adopted by Council Bill 2024-514 on October 21, 2024; and establishing a date when it shall become effective.

Documents:

1. 2024-624 Summary Sheet.pdf
2. CB2024-624 COJ Superion LLC Agreement for IT Services.pdf
3. Superion_PA_2025.pdf

5.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2024-626

AN ORDINANCE approving an agreement by and between the City of Joplin and Central Square Technologies, LLC., for the addition of an Enterprise Asset Management System, and authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute the same by and on behalf of the City of Joplin; and, setting a date when this ordinance shall become effective.

Documents:

1. 2024-626 Summary Sheet.pdf
2. CB2024-626 COJ Enterprise Asset Management.pdf
3. Joplin EAM Agreement v1.0 7.24.24.pdf
4. Joplin EAM SOW v1.0 8.1.24.pdf

6.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2024-627

AN ORDINANCE    approving a Contract by and between the City of Joplin and Garver, LLC., in the amount of One Hundred and Forty-Nine Thousand Four Hundred and Eighty-One Dollars and No Cents ($149,481.00) for the engineering/architectural design, plans, specifications, and pre-construction administration services for a new Veteran’s Memorial Park and/or an American Legion Facility; authorizing the City Manager to execute said Contract by and on behalf of the City of Joplin.

Documents:

1. Summary for American Legion Facility and Veterans Memorial Park.pdf
2. 2024-RFQ-18 Veterans Memorial Park f.pdf
3. Garver SOQ_2014-RFP-18_American Legion Facility and Veterans Memorial Park.pdf
4. Veterans Memorial Park Overall Summary Scores.pdf
5. EXHIBIT A-R2.pdf
6. Exhibit B - 2401728.pdf
7. 2024 - Joplin_Garver Consulting Agreement.pdf
8. 2024 - Joplin Engineering Work Authorization Form (Rev.).pdf
9. COUNCIL BILL NO. 2024-627 American Legion Facility and Veterans Memorial Park.pdf

12.

Ordinances - Second Reading and Third Reading

13.

Unfinished Business

14.

New Business

Highway Patrol will no longer post names of people involved in accidents

(From the Missouri State Highway Patrol)

Beginning November 1, 2024, at 3 p.m., the Missouri State Highway Patrol intends to implement a change to the preliminary online traffic crash and boat/drowning incident reports in which the names of involved parties will no longer be posted online.

The Patrol was recently notified of scam incidents across the state targeting motor vehicle crash victims and/or individuals associated with someone who was involved in a crash. These suspects may have used information obtained via public databases, including the Patrol’s online reports, to sound credible.

The Patrol conducts periodic review of all policies, procedures, and general orders. As a result, names of those involved in motor vehicle crashes, boating incidents and drownings will no longer be included in our preliminary online reporting. The gender, age, injury type, city/state and other information will continue to be posted. Advancements in technology and social media platforms were a significant consideration in this decision.

The Patrol is entrusted with protecting the safety and public interest of those we serve. The public safety benefit of the dissemination of information that identifies a traffic/boating crash victim, or drowning victim no longer outweighs the risks when the names are disseminated. Importantly, all parties who have a legal right to access such information are readily able to do so through the Missouri State Highway Patrol Public Records Center. This decision is further consistent with the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act, 18 U.S.C. § 2721.

Coroner's report estimates LaTurner's died more than eight hours after Rocco, John Joseph left scene

A 9 a.m. January 13 preliminary hearing is scheduled in Cherokee County District Court for Rocco Joseph, 18, Joplin, who is accused of leaving the scene of the August 19, 2023 crash that killed Gary LaTurner, 60, Galena.

Joseph pleaded not guilty during his initial appearance Wednesday. The meeting was held via Zoom with Joseph not attending in person, according to court documents.

Joseph's initial appearance had originally been scheduled for October 7, but was postponed at Joseph's request because he was having midterms at the Mississippi college he attends.

Joseph's father, John Joseph, a Joplin dentist, is also charged with leaving the scene of a fatality accident, as well as contributing to a child's misconduct.

According to the probable cause statement, surveillance video shows Rocco Joseph's vehicle struck LaTurner at 11:23 p.m. August 19, with Joseph not stopping. Shortly afterward, Joseph called his father and later met with him at the Casey's General Store at 2764 W. 32nd Street in Joplin and after a short time they returned to the scene of the accident.

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.

The coroner's report, which is cited in the probable cause statement, indicates LaTurner was still alive when the Josephs left the accident scene at 12:28 a.m. The coroner estimated his time of death at 9 a.m.

Rocco Joseph is represented by Thomas J. Bath, Leawood.

John Joseph is represented by Joplin attorney Phil Glades.

More information from the probable cause statement can be found at the link below:

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