Suspect in July 5 deaths of two Springfield residents arrested in Mississippi

(From the Springfield Police Department)

On Oct. 14, 2024, the Springfield Police Department’s Crime Stoppers received tip information that led to the arrest of Jeffrey Garrett, 40, from St. Louis, in Waynesboro, Mississippi.

Garrett is charged with two counts of 1st degree murder and two counts of armed criminal action and will be held with no bond.

Detectives continue to investigate and ask anyone with information about this incident, to contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1755 or make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 417-869-TIPS (8477) or online at p3tips.com.

 

The Greene County Prosecutor’s Office 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.

Previous release

The Springfield Homicide Unit identified Jeffrey Garrett, 39, from St. Louis, as the suspect in the July 5 homicide of 46-year-old Jack Osborn and 44-year-old Melissa Smith (previously identified as Melissa Evans).

On July 9, 2024, the case was presented to the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office. Garrett was charged with two counts of 1st degree murder and two counts of armed criminal action with no bond.

Garrett is not currently in custody.

Detectives continue to investigate and ask anyone with information about Garrett’s location or this incident, to contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1755 or make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 417-869-TIPS (8477) or online at p3tips.com.

  

The Greene County Prosecutor’s Office 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.

Previous release

On July 5, 2024, at 3:12 a.m., Springfield police officers responded to the report of two people shot at 1634 W. Chestnut St.

Officers located Jack Osborn, 46, with a gunshot wound at the residence. Osborn died on scene. The second victim, Melissa Evans, 44, also had gunshot wounds. Evans was transported to a local hospital where she later died. The families of Osborn and Evans have been notified.

There is no suspect information at this time.

Detectives continue to investigate and ask anyone with additional 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) or online at p3tips.com.

This is Springfield’s fifth homicide investigation in 2024, which includes the sixth and seventh victims for the year.

Investigation continues after multiple people shot, one death in Springfield parking garage

(From the Springfield Police Department)

On Oct. 13, 2024, at 2:12 a.m., Springfield police officers were sent to the Heer’s Parking Garage at 230 N. Campbell Ave., in reference to multiple people shot during a disturbance.

Officers located two men with gunshot wounds in a vehicle at the intersection of McDaniel Street and Campbell Avenue. Officers located another man with gunshot wounds at the intersection of Olive Street and Campbell Avenue. All three men were transported to local hospitals.

 

One of the men, identified as Klayton Hagan, 18, from Springfield, died at the hospital. Hagan’s family has been notified.

Springfield Police Department Homicide Detectives have identified and located all parties involved in this incident. No arrest has been made at this time, pending further investigation.

Once the investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded to the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office for review, and a decision will be made regarding the filing of criminal charges.

Detectives continue to investigate and ask anyone with additional 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) or online at p3tips.com.

This is Springfield’s 11th homicide investigation in 2024, with the 13th victim for the year.

Springfield Police investigate E. Bennett Street homicide

(From the Springfield Police Department)

On Oct. 9, 2024, at 10:15 a.m., Springfield police officers were flagged down in the 1800 block of E. Bennett Street in reference to a well-being check of a man under the bushes at 1824 E. Bennett St.

Officers found Bryan A. York, 59, from Springfield, deceased. York’s family has been notified.

During the investigation, it was discovered that York had injuries consistent with an assault that resulted in his death.

 

Detectives continue to investigate and ask anyone with additional 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) or online at p3tips.com.

This is Springfield’s 10th homicide investigation in 2024, with the 12th victim for the year.

Republic man sentenced for fentanyl trafficking, illegal firearms

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

A Republic, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing fentanyl to distribute and several firearms following two instances in which he fled from law enforcement officers.

Tonikko Fewell, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 16 years in federal prison without parole.

On April 22, 2024, Fewell pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On Aug. 16, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Fewell’s residence. Fewell drove by his residence while officers were executing the search warrant. Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but Fewell dropped off a female passenger and quickly sped away at speeds over 100 miles per hour. Officers discontinued the pursuit over public safety concerns.

Officers searched Fewell’s residence and found approximately 588 grams of fentanyl, $3,420 in cash, and an Anderson .223-caliber semi-automatic rifle, which had been reported stolen, with a fully loaded 40-round magazine. Officers also found a Jimenez Arms 9mm semi-automatic pistol that had been reported stolen and a Walther 9mm semi-automatic pistol in a vehicle parked at the residence.

On Dec. 8, 2021, a Springfield, Mo., police detective attempted to conduct a traffic stop of an orange Cadillac Fewell was driving. The detective did not pursue the vehicle, but shortly afterward saw the vehicle had been involved in a three-car accident at the intersection of Commercial Street and National Avenue. The detective searched the vehicle and found 54 grams of fentanyl and $4,232 in cash. Fewell, a passenger, and their 2-year-old daughter were transported to the hospital for treatment.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Fewell has a prior felony conviction for unlawful use of a weapon.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Republic, Mo., Police Department, and the Christian County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

Driver dies in motorcycle crash on Chestnut Expressway

(From the Springfield Police Department)

On Oct. 5, at 11:50 p.m., officers with the Springfield Police Department responded to a motorcycle crash in the 2700 block of W. Chestnut Expressway.

Raymond Lindgren, 42, from Fordland, and Heather Maggard, 40, from Springfield, were riding a 2022 Harley Davidson motorcycle west on Chestnut Expressway. Lindgren lost control of the motorcycle, went off the roadway to the north, and hit a utility pole. Both Lindgren and Maggard were transported to a local hospital.

Lindgren died at the hospital from his injuries. Lindgren’s family has been notified.

The circumstances of the crash are part of an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is requested to contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810 or the tips hotline at 417-869-TIPS.

This was Springfield’s 19th fatal motor vehicle crash in 2024.

8-year-old dies at Springfield hospital following ATV crash

(From the Springfield Police Department)

On Oct. 3, at 11:19 p.m., officers with the Springfield Police Department responded to an ATV crash at the intersection of Jean Street and Missouri Avenue.

Bryon Heard, 29, and Je’Bryia Heard 8, both from Springfield, were riding a Kazuma ATV, west on Jean Street. They crossed Missouri Avenue and struck a utility pole on the southwest corner of the intersection. Je’Bryia was riding behind Bryon on the ATV when it crashed into the utility pole. 

Both Bryon and Je’Bryia were transported to the hospital for treatment. Je’Bryia died at the hospital. Next of kin has been notified.

The circumstances of the crash are part of an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is requested to contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810 or the tips hotline at 417-869-TIPS.

This was Springfield’s 18th fatal motor vehicle crash in 2024.

Springfield Police Department arrests two drunk drivers during saturation patrol

The Springfield Police Department arrested two impaired drivers during a five-hour saturation patrol on Friday, Sept. 20. Officers used marked patrol vehicles to enforce hazardous moving violations commonly associated with intoxicated driving.

There were 24 vehicles stopped during this patrol. In addition to the two drivers arrested for driving while intoxicated, 20 citations were issued.

As a reminder, consequences of impaired driving include jail time, loss of driving privileges, sentencing to use ignition interlocks and increased insurance rates. Financial losses include attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of a job.

Always have a plan for how to get home. Drunk driving is not worth the consequences. If you drink and drive, you lose.

Saturation patrols are funded through a grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation Traffic and Highway Safety Division.

Ozark man sentenced to 25 years for meth conspiracy

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

An Ozark, Mo., man and a Springfield, Mo., man have been sentenced in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Robert Jason Smith, 48, of Ozark, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 25 years in federal prison without parole. Smith was sentenced as a career criminal due to his prior felony convictions.

In a separate but related case, Aaron A. Keltner, 41, of Springfield, was sentenced on Thursday, Sept. 26, to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole.

On Feb. 15, 2024, Smith pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Smith admitted that he sold 25.17 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant on June 22, 2021. The next day, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop while Smith was driving a black GMC pickup. An officer searched the truck and found a small black backpack on the rear floorboard behind the driver’s seat. Inside the backpack was a Ziploc bag that contained 217.98 grams of methamphetamine and $4,000 in cash. The officer found another backpack, which contained hundreds of rounds of assorted handgun, rifle, and shotgun ammunition, in the bed of the pickup.

Officers executed a search warrant at Smith’s residence the same day, on June 22, 2021. In the master bedroom, officers found a Ziploc bag that contained 53.86 grams of methamphetamine as well as a Taurus .22-caliber semi-automatic pistol under the mattress.

Smith told investigators he purchased a pound of methamphetamine each week from a co-defendant who was working with Keltner, for which he paid $5,000, and a pound of methamphetamine every two or three weeks from a separate source of supply.

According to court documents, Smith is responsible for the distribution of more than 12 kilograms of methamphetamine.

Smith has 13 prior felony convictions, six of which were for selling drugs.

Smith is the first defendant to be sentenced in this case. Two co-defendants have pleaded guilty and await sentencing. Two co-defendants are scheduled for trial.

Keltner, who was charged separately, pleaded guilty on March 11, 2024, to his role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy and to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, Keltner regularly coordinated trips to acquire 14 to 16 kilograms of methamphetamine from Oklahoma per trip, using women to make the trips for him. He would then divide up the methamphetamine for re-distribution.

Keltner admitted that he was in possession of an Anderson Manufacturing AR-15 style .223/5.56mm semi-automatic rifle, a Savage Arms .223-caliber bolt-action rifle, and a Marlin .22-caliber bolt-action rifle. The firearms were found by law enforcement officers when they executed a search warrant at Keltner’s residence.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Keltner has numerous prior felony convictions, including for the distribution, delivery, or manufacture of a controlled substance.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Christian County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

Springfield man dead following crash on Chestnut Expressway

(From the Springfield Police Department)

On Sept. 24, at 2:41 a.m., officers with the Springfield Police Department responded to a single-vehicle crash at 1020 E. Chestnut Expy.

Jonathan L. Koontz, 31, from Springfield, was driving a Honda Navi motorcycle south on Hampton Ave., crossed Central St., and continued onto the parking lot of Ozarks Technical Community College. Koontz hit a curb in the parking lot, continued through landscaping and hit a retaining wall.

Koontz died at the scene. Koontz’ family has been notified.

The circumstances of the crash are part of an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is requested to contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810 or make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 417-869-TIPS or online at p3tips.com.

This was Springfield’s 17th fatal motor vehicle crash in 2024.

Shell Knob man dead after crash on 39

A Shell Knob man was killed in a one-vehicle accident 2:03 p.m. Monday on MO 39 one mile north of Shell Knob.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2005 GMC Yukon driven by Melissa R. Hollie, 46, Shell Knob, failed to negotiate a curve, traveled off the right side of the road, overturned and struck a fence.

A passenger, James D. Larson, 57, Shell Knob, was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:10 p.m. by Barry County Coroner Gary Swearingen.

Hollie was treated for moderate injuries at Mercy Springfield.

The fatality was the 80th this year for Highway Patrol Troop D.