Accused killer of Springfield woman: We got together, we did drugs, but I didn't even know her name

(From the Greene County Prosecuting Attorney's Office)

Greene County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Patterson announces that Charles M. Holsey, 40, of Indiana, has been charged today with murder in the first degree and armed criminal action in relation to the death of Toni Brooks.

Ms. Brooks’s body was located on October 10, 2018 after her family asked the police to check on her well-being. The Springfield Police Department has been actively investigating this case since that date and developed Charles Holsey as a suspect. Mr. Holsey was arrested yesterday afternoon. The Greene County Prosecutor filed formal charges Thursday.

Mr. Patterson cautions that the charges contained in the felony complaint are merely allegations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.



This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Wright. It is being investigated by the Springfield Police Department and Detective Kelly Patton is the lead investigator assigned to the case.

Probable Cause Statement

On 10/20/2018, officers were dispatched to 1617 N. Benton, Apartment B, to check TB. The caller reported they had not heard from TB for several days. Responders found the east door to Apartment B closed but unlocked. Responding officers also noted a foul smell coming from inside the apartment and officers entered the apartment to check the residence.

When opening the east door to the apartment, officers found a mattress and bed springs were leaning up against the door that had to be pushed out of the way to enter. Officer also noted in the kitchen area a refrigerator was moved in front of the west door barricading the door.

While checking the apartment, officers reported seeing what they believed to be blood in several areas inside the apartment.

While checking the bathroom, a deceased female was found lying on the floor. The female had numerous lacerations to her upper torso and body. The remaining areas of the apartment were checked and no one else was found inside. The apartment and scene were secured for processing.

While processing the scene, blood evidence and other items of evidence were collected, including a cellular phone. Several drops of blood were found on the bedroom floor. It was found the headbaord and metal bed frame were in place, however the mattress and box springs were on their edge laying against the east door.

Sitting inside the metal bed frame was a large cushioned chair butted up against the box springs. Additionally, a sofa had been partially placed on top of the large cushioned chair. 

It appeared the mattress, box springs and large cushioned chair and the sofa were used to barricade the east door to the apartment. 

While processing the bedroom, a single drop of blood was found on top of the metal bed frame where the bed would have been resting. The female was also postively identified as TB.

Located at the scene was a white, four-door Buick parked on the west side of the apartment  complex that checked to TB. A receipt for Eagle Pawn and Jewelry were found inside the Buick. The paperwork was donated 10/06/2018 at 1024 hours. The name on the paperwork was listed as Charles Holsey and listed an address for Holsey of 1416 Salisbury Lane, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Furthermore, the paperwork Holsey sold an Intertek fan for $35. Listed in a box on the paperwork labeled "Identification Type and No." was an Indiana driver's license number of 2350211387.

I submitted evidence collected at the crime scene to the Missouri Highway Patrol Crime Laboratory for processing. The evidence included a sample of the single drop of blood found on top of the bed frame.

The evidence was processed for DNA and latent print identification. I was notified by the Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Laboratory the evidence had been submitted and compared through CODIS (Combined DNA Index System). I was also notified a national level offender hit occurred with the state of Indiana and the swab taken from the bed frame. The offender information checked to a Charles Holsey.

I turned the cellular phone recovered at the scene to Computer Forensic Examiner M. Costello for processing. I was provided with a CD copy of the extracted data from the cellular phone. While reviewing the date from the cellular phone I found the number assigned to the phone was the same as TB's phone number. 

On 10/07/2018 at 1211 hours TB received two text messages from phone number 317-523-1549. The text message indicated the sender wanted to meet with TB. Immediately after receiving the text messages, TB called the phone number. The data showed the phone conversation lasted for two minutes and 45 seconds.

By using police resources, I found 327-523-1549 checked to Dorothy Triplett. By using police resources, I found Triplett had a listed relative identified as Flora Easler. Police resources showed Easler had a listed address of 1627 N. Main, Springfield, Missouri.

On 10-29-2018, I drove by 1627 N. Main and observed a male sitting in the back yard who I identified as Charles Holsey. On 10/31/18, Holsey was contacted as he stepped out of 1627 N. Main. Holsey was transported to police headquarters to be interviewed.

Once at police headquarter, I conducted a recorded interview with Holsey. Post Miranda, Holsey confirmed his phone number was 317-523-1549. Holsey confirmed he was picked up by a female in a white car who asked him to sell a fan to Eagle Pawn and Jewelry. 

After selling the fan, Holsey said he and the female purchased narcotics. After purchasing the narcotics, Holsey and the female went back to her apartment. Once at the apartment, Holsey and the female ingested the narcotics.

While inside the apartment, Holsey said his hand was cut when a glass smoking pipe shattered in his hand. Holsey admitted his hand bled and his blood would have been inside the female's apartment. Holsey denied knowing the female's name and he claimed he did not know where she lived.

Holsey showed me the palm of his right hand and pointed to a mark in the center of his palm. Holsey said the mark was from being cut by the piece of glass. While inspecting Holsey's right hand, I also saw he had what appeared to be a laceration on the inside of his index finger and a laceration on the outside of his pinky finger. The lacerations appeared to be in the healing process and were not new. I took several photographs of Holsey to document his injuries.

At the conclusion of my interview, I advised Holsey he was under arrest. Holsey was transported and booked into the Greene County Jail.

I reviewed the photographs taken while TB's apartment was processed. When reviewing the photographs of TB, I could see, at minimum, 10 single point holes in the chest of TB's shirt. I also saw TB had numerous single point injuries and large elongated injuries on both her right hand and left upper arms and forearms. A preliminary report from the Greene County Medical Examiner's office listed TB's death as a homicide.