Springfield woman sought for car theft, possession

 

Arrests made in armed robbery of Aurora McDonald's

(From the Aurora/Marionville Police Department)

On 11-29-2022 at approximately 10:00pm, two masked subjects entered the McDonald’s on S. Elliott in Aurora. One subject brandished a handgun and asked an employee to be given access to cash in the store. An undisclosed amount of cash was taken and the suspects left the store on foot.

At approximately 7:20pm today, the AMPD conducted an operation and served a search warrant inside the city limits of Aurora. The search warrant was executed less than 24 hours after the McDonald's robbery that occurred last night. 

We have suspects in custody under suspicion of that robbery and other robberies in the area. We have located evidence used in the robbery including the firearm used. This is still an active investigation, but we want the community to know we have them in custody and we have law enforcement from other nearby jurisdictions who also have charges for similar crimes.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in the court of law.

More details will be released at a later time. 

Springfield man sentenced to nearly 20 years on child sexual exploitation charges

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

A Springfield, Mo., man who was the subject of an undercover investigation in the United Kingdom has been sentenced in federal court on child sexual exploitation charges.

Kody Ryan Kelso, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 19 years and seven months in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Kelso to spend 15 years on supervised release following incarceration.

On July 6, 2022, Kelso pleaded guilty to one count of the sexual exploitation of a child to produce child pornography and to one count of using the internet and a cell phone to coerce and entice a child under the age of 14 to engage in illicit sexual activity.

Both of the offenses to which Kelso pleaded guilty are related to an undercover law enforcement operation in the United Kingdom. Kelso used an online service named My LOL, a teen dating site with chat features, to contact a person he believed to be a 13-year-old girl, but in reality was an undercover law enforcement officer. Kelso asked her to have sexual intercourse with him and repeatedly requested sexually explicit images during online chats from Jan. 7 to Feb. 2, 2021. Kelso also provided his email address and asked her to use Google hangouts to send sexually explicit photos outside the MYLOL platform.

In addition to the information from Europol, investigators received two Cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding Kelso’s online activity and posting a child pornography video online.

On June 16, 2021, Springfield police officers executed a search warrant at Kelso’s apartment and he was arrested. Officers seized 19 electronic devices. Investigators found 26 images and 39 video files of child pornography on Kelso’s computers. 

According to court documents, Kelso had multiple conversations with other users who had clearly identified themselves as minors and sought to have them produce sexually explicit images and entice them into engaging in sexual conduct. The records from MyLOL reveal that Kelso had contacted 560 additional MyLOL users, all of which were listed as being between the age of 13 and 17 years old. He started each conversation by asking if the child had an “age limit” and would introduce sexual topics.

Kelso’s behavior was not limited to MyLOL. On his devices, law enforcement discovered approximately 7,900 different chat threads with different users, over multiple social media applications, including Discord, Facebook Messenger, Google Hangouts, Instagram, Kik, Skype, and Text Now. Kelso sometimes sent child pornography, or pornographic images of himself, to these children and requested nude images.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the FBI, and Homeland Security Investigations.

Four people killed, 1-year-old injured in 3-car accident on I-44

 
Four people were killed and one injured in a three-vehicle accident 9:59 p.m. Thursday on I-44 two miles west of Springfield.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2021 Ram 1500 driven by Joshua R. Wamsley, 33, Springfield, struck a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse driven by Ryan Schultz, 40, Fair Grove, in the rear then traveled into the westbound lanes and hit a 2018 Ford Escape driven by Patrick J. Holloway, 44, Republic, head on.

Wamsley was pronounced dead by Dr. Robinson at Cox South Hospital, at 10:32 p.m. Dr. Stuppe at Cox pronounced Shandrea L. Holloway, 44, Republic, a passenger in the Holloway vehicle, dead at 10:39 p.m.

Holloway and a passenger in the Wamsley vehicle, Danielle E. Dillman, 36, Springfield were pronounced dead at the scene by Greene County Medical Examiner Buddy Pilmore.

Another passenger in the Holloway vehicle, a 1-year-old girl was treated for moderate injuries at Cox South.

The fatalities were the 123rd, 124th, 125th and 126th this year for Highway Patrol Troop D.

Another passenger in the Holloway vehicle, a 1-year-

Reeds Spring woman sought on stolen property, drug charges

 

Buffalo man dies in crash at 1955 E. Division

(From the Springfield Police Department)

On Nov. 19, 2022, at 10:29 a.m., officers with the Springfield Police Department responded to a single vehicle crash in front of 1955 E. Division.

Ronald McClellan, 61, of Buffalo, was driving eastbound on Division when he left the roadway and hit a utility pole. McClellan was transported to the hospital where he later died. McClellan’s family has been notified.

The circumstances involved in the crash are under investigation.

This is Springfield’s 23rd fatal vehicle crash in 2022.

Springfield Police seeking tips on N. Lone Pine Avenue homicide

(From the Springfield Police Department)

The Springfield Police Department continues to investigate the homicide that happened at 1824 N. Lone Pine Ave., on Nov. 1, and the department is asking the public for help.

Anyone with information about the death of Timothy J. Williamson, 42, from Springfield should call 417-864-1810 or make any anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 417-869-TIPS (8477).

Previous news release

On Nov. 1, 2022, at approximately 11:48 a.m., the Springfield Police Department was dispatched to 1824 N. Lone Pine Ave., to a man bleeding from unknown injuries. When officers arrived at the residence, they determined the man was deceased and circumstances surrounding the death appeared to be suspicious.

The man was identified as Timothy J. Williamson, 42, from Springfield. Williamson’s family has been notified.

A suspect has not been identified in this case.

 

Detectives are investigating Williamson’s death as a homicide and are asking anyone who has information about this incident to contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810 or make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 417-869-TIPS (8477).

This incident marks the 16th homicide investigation for 2022.

Springfield Police needs help identifying armed robber

(From the Springfield Police Department)

The Springfield Police Department needs the public’s assistance with identifying the suspect in a recent Casey’s robbery at 1510 N. Glenstone Ave.

On Oct. 31, the suspect presented a firearm and demanded money at Casey’s. The suspect was wearing a ghillie suit/Halloween costume. Security footage shows images of the suspect without a mask.

The suspect is a white male with a mohawk-style haircut.

If anyone recognizes the suspect, please contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810 or make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 417-869-TIPS (8477).

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Trending Crime Update: Robbery

Bicyclist hit, killed at Division and Kansas Expressway

(From the Springfield Police Department)

On Oct. 12, 2022, at 5:08 p.m., officers with the Springfield Police Department responded to a bicyclist hit by a vehicle at Division and Kansas Expressway.

Joseph Hamer, 55, of Springfield, was riding his bike eastbound across Kansas Expressway. A 2001 Dodge Ram 1500, driven by Donald Lansdown, 53, of Springfield, was turning southbound on Kansas Expressway from Division when it hit Hamer.

 

Hamer was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on Oct. 14, 2022. Hamer’s family was notified at the time of his death. The Springfield Police Department was notified of Hamer’s death by the medical examiner’s office on Nov. 17.

Impairment of the driver is not suspected as a factor in the crash. The circumstances involved in the crash are under investigation.

This is Springfield’s 22nd traffic fatality in 2022.

Springfield man who robbed bank while wearing ankle monitor pleads guilty

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

A Springfield, Mo., man who was wearing a court-ordered ankle monitor at the time of the offense pleaded guilty in federal court today to robbing a Bank of America branch in Springfield last summer.

Michael C. Loyd, 30, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of bank robbery.

By pleading guilty today, Loyd admitted he stole $754 from Bank of America at 633 W. Kearney in Springfield on July 20, 2022. 

Loyd approached a bank teller and handed her a note that stated, “Give Your Money Now. Don’t Say Anything. I Have A Partner Outside.” After the teller handed him the cash in her drawer, Loyd left the bank and drove away in a black Dodge Ram pickup truck.

A few minutes later, investigators received a tip that Loyd may be the bank robber and that he was currently at Lazy Acres Mobile Home Park, where the truck’s owner lived. Law enforcement officers surrounded the residence and began calling out occupants of the residence.

Investigators compared a previous booking photo of Loyd to the surveillance photos from the bank. Investigators also learned that Loyd was on ankle monitoring as part of his state probation. LBS Monitoring confirmed that their tracking data indicated Loyd’s ankle monitor was inside the Bank of America at the time of the robbery.

Loyd surrendered to law enforcement and admitted to robbing the bank. He told investigators that, as he was driving away from the bank, he saw patrol cars with their lights activated driving in the direction of the bank. He became scared and started throwing money out the window of the truck. Loyd didn’t know how much of the money he disposed of, because he didn’t know how much money he had stolen.

Under federal statutes, Loyd is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department and the FBI.

Springfield man charged with domestic assault, shot by juvenile who saw the crime

(From the Greene County Sheriff's Office)

Tuesday afternoon, Greene County Deputies responded to the 3400 Block of North Farm Road 143 for a Domestic Assault. 

During the assault, a juvenile witnessing the incident discharged a firearm at the suspect, striking him. The suspect then fled the residence to a location inside the city limits of Springfield where he was located by the Springfield Police Department. The suspect was transported to a local hospital with a non-life-threatening injury.

 
The suspect was identified as 52-year-old, Stephen Bailey Jr. of Springfield, Missouri.

Stephen Bailey Jr. has been charged with Domestic Assault 2nd Degree and Burglary 1st Degree and is being held in the Greene County Jail on a $500,000.00 Open Court Bond. Greene County Warrant: 22-GRARW-1673.

“A charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.”

Springfield man pleads guilty to sexual exploitation of 14-year-old girl

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

A Springfield, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to the sexual exploitation of a 14-year-old victim.

Jared Neal Gonzales, 25, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to one count of using a minor to produce child pornography.

By pleading guilty today, Gonzales admitted he was in a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl. Gonzalez also admitted they used a cell phone to record themselves having sexual intercourse. On at least two occasions, at Gonzales’s request, the child victim used her cell phone to send him videos of the couple engaged in sexual intercourse.

Under federal statutes, Gonzales is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 30 years in federal prison without parole. 

The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. 

A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the FBI and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.

Springfield man killed in motorcycle crash near Pleasant Hope

A Springfield man was killed in a one-vehicle accident 3 p.m. Monday on Route H north of Route CC three miles south of Pleasant Hope.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2017 Harley Davidson driven by Bryon K. Rochau, 56, Springfield, was passing several vehicles when Rochau lost control and traveled off the roadway.

Rochau was pronounced dead by Dr. Z. Beam, Mercy Springfield, at 9:15 p.m.

The fatality was the 118th this year for Highway Patrol Troop D.

Forsyth man killed crashing into rock bluff

A Forsyth man was killed in a one-vehicle accident 9:14 a.m. Sunday on Route H, a mile and half north of Forsyth.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2001 Ford Ranger driven by Michael Stenger, 67, Forsyth, ran off the left side of the roadway and struck a rock bluff.

Dr. Travis Melton at Cox Hospital, Branson, pronounced Stenger dead at 10:53 a.m.

The fatality was the 116th this year for Highway Patrol Troop D.

 

Springfield man killed in car-pedestrian accident

(From the Springfield Police Department)

On Nov. 2, 2022, at 6:54 p.m., officers with the Springfield Police Department responded to a single-vehicle accident involving a pedestrian at Scenic and Monroe.

James R. Hickey, 56, from Springfield, was walking southbound on Scenic when he walked in front of a southbound white 2018 Nissan NV200, driven by Steven Maifeld, 77, from Republic, and was struck by the van.

 

Hickey was transported to the hospital where he later died. Hickey’s family has been notified.

Maifeld showed no obvious signs of impairment. The circumstances involved in the crash are under investigation.

This is Springfield’s 21st traffic fatality in 2022.

 

Hammer-wielding suspect kills Springfield man, injures another, commits suicide

(From the Springfield Police Department)

On Nov. 1, 2022, at approximately 1:16 p.m., the Springfield Police Department was dispatched to Cox North Hospital at 1423 N. Jefferson St., in reference to two males with injuries from an assault with a hammer. 

After talking to one of the victims at the hospital, officers determined the assault occurred at 4525 W. Chestnut Expressway. When officers arrived at the Chestnut Expressway location, they found the crime scene from the assault and another deceased male.

 

One of the male victims, identified as Phillip N. Campbell, 53, from Springfield, had sustained life-threatening injuries and was later transported to another local hospital for treatment. 

On Nov. 2, 2022, Campbell succumbed to his injuries. Campbell’s family has been notified.

The second male victim was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and later released.

The Springfield Police Department’s Homicide Unit investigated the incident and determined the suspect, Vincent Odom, 35, from Springfield, attacked both victims inside a building at 4525 W. Chestnut Expressway. Shortly after the assault, Odom walked outside and committed suicide. Odom’s family has been notified.

Detectives continue to investigate and are asking anyone who has information about this incident to contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810 or make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 417-869-TIPS (8477).

This incident marks the 15th homicide investigation for 2022.

One-fourth of Branson sex offenders non-compliant on Halloween

(From the Branson Police Department)

The Branson Police Department conducted random Halloween compliance checks on 28 registered sex offenders in the City of Branson last night that fall under the RSMO 589.426 Missouri State Halloween Compliance Statute. 

Out of the 28 checks, 21 individuals were found to be in compliance and 7 were found in violation. Our Investigations Unit will be presenting charges to the Taney County Prosecutor's Office for the violations.

You can view the Missouri RSMo here: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx....

Missouri State Highway Patrol maintains the Missouri Sex Offender Registry list. They have an interactive map that allows you to see all registered sex offenders and pertinent information by proximity to an address, zipcode, etc. or by offender name. You can view or search the Missouri Sex Offender Registry here: https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/CJ38/searchRegistry.jsp

Twenty-eight Greene County sex offenders found non-compliant during Halloween check

(From the Greene County Sheriff's Office)

Greene County has 930 registered sex offenders living inside Greene County. Out of 930 total registered sex offenders, 443 registered sex offenders fall under the RSMO 589.426: Missouri State Halloween Compliance Statute.

Greene County Deputies checked on 415 registered sex offenders last night. Of those 415 sex offenders, 28 were NOT compliant with the Missouri State Halloween Compliance Statute.

Charges will be presented to the Greene County Prosecuting Attorney's Office for the violations.