Barry County Sheriff's Office searching for stolen camper

(From the Barry County Sheriff's Office)

2004 white R-Vision 33-foot camper

Stolen off State Highway 248, just outside of Cassville, between 11/25/2025 -11/27/2025. 

If you have any information, please contact our office at 417-847-6556.

Willard Police Department investigating homicide, arrest made

(From the Willard Police Department)

On December 8th at approximately 0327, officers responded to the 900 block of Fox River in Willard, Greene County, MO after a 911 caller reported “a disturbance that led to the death of an adult male

When officers arrived, they located a deceased male in the home. Officers are actively investigating the crime at this time.

A person of interest in the case has been arrested and booked for the offense of domestic felony assault.

We are still in the process of locating and notifying the victim's family.

We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

Springfield business owner pleads guilty to filing false tax return, illegally possessing firearms

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

A Springfield, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to unlawfully possessing firearms and filing a false tax return.

Marco Lorimer Denis, 50, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawfully possessing a firearm, and one count of filing a false tax return.

At the time of the offenses, Denis was the owner of Springfield Property LLC, a company providing retail and commercial rental space, including at Plaza Towers in Springfield.

As part of his plea, Denis admitted to knowingly possessing firearms when he had previously been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. Denis pleaded guilty in 2003 to misdemeanor domestic assault in the Greene County, Mo., Circuit Court. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence to be in possession of a firearm.

In December 2012, Denis attempted to purchase a firearm from a federal firearm licensee. His purchase was immediately denied after a background check, resulting in the federal firearm licensee refusing to transfer the firearm to Denis.

On July 15 and 16, 2024, as part of a domestic violence investigation, officers with the Springfield Police Department executed search warrants at Denis’s residence and located 8 firearms in his residence and in the driver’s side door panel of his vehicle.

Denis also admitted to filing a false tax return for the calendar year 2023. Denis’s 2023 tax return, which was filed in March 2025, did not include $57,391.06 of income he received in the course of operating Springfield Property, LLC. The IRS tax loss associated with Denis’s unreported income is $24,749.

Under federal statutes, Denis is subject to a sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison without parole and a fine of up to $250,000 for unlawfully possessing firearms; and a sentence of up to 3 years in federal prison without parole and a fine of up to $250,000, and an order of restitution, for filing a false tax return. 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. Attorneys Stephanie L. Wan and Casey Clark. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, and IRS-Criminal Investigation.

Springfield Police searching for car, driver in fatal hit and run

(From the Springfield Police Department)

The Springfield Police Traffic Unit is seeking your help to locate the driver and/or vehicle involved in a fatal hit & run crash involving an adult female pedestrian. 

If you have any information on this vehicle pictured or the driver please call 413-735-1568, 413-787-6300 or anonymously Text-A-Tip, Text CRIMES (2-7-4-6-3-7) type SOLVE and your tip. 

At approximately 6:20 p.m., Friday officers responded to the area of State and Federal Streets for a report of a car vs. pedestrian crash. The adult female pedestrian was transported to Baystate where she succumbed to her injuries. The driver fled the scene.

Two Shell Knob residents killed in crash on Stallion Bluff Road

Two Shell Knob residents were killed in a one-vehicle accident 10:52 p.m. Friday on Stallion Bluff Road three miles north of Shell Knob.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado ran off the roadway on a curve and struck a tree. Driver information is pending further investigation.

Barry County Coroner Gary Swearingen pronounced a 48-year-old man and a 24-year-old man, both  of Shell Knob, dead at the scene.

A 30-year-old Franklin, Nebraska man was treated for serious injuries at Mercy Springfield.

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

Barry County Route B west of Purdy to be reduced to one lane

(From MoDOT)

TRAFFIC ALERT: Barry Co. Route B Reduced to One Lane West of Purdy Dec. 15-18

Where: Barry County Route B approximately 1.5 miles west of Purdy

When: Around the clock Monday-Thursday, December 15-18

What: MoDOT crews working on culvert

Traffic Impacts

Route B reduced to one (1) lane where crews are working

Traffic will be controlled by temporary signals alternating traffic through the work zone

No signed detours

Drivers urged to find alternate routes

Signs and message boards will alert drivers approaching the work zone

Check MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map for road closings/traffic impacts

Weather and/or construction delays will alter the work schedule.

Springfield gang member sentenced for illegal firearm

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

A Springfield, Mo., man with ties to a local gang was sentenced in federal court today to illegally possessing a stolen firearm that has been connected to two shootings.

Jayden Isaac Simmonds, 19, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool, to 63 months in federal prison without parole for being an unlawful user of a controlled substance while in possession of a firearm.

Simmonds, who pleaded guilty on May 19, 2025, admitted he possessed a stolen Smith and Wesson 10mm semi-automatic pistol, was a daily user of marijuana, and addicted to fentanyl. Simmonds also admitted to being a member of a local gang known as the “1500” which is closely associated to another area gang, FTO.

On Jan. 30, 2024, the Springfield Police Department responded to a car accident. One of the drivers indicated that his two passengers, which included Simmonds, had fled the scene and taken the driver’s two firearms with him. The following day, police responded to a drive-by shooting and located shell casings which were consistent with the firearm that Simmonds had taken on Jan. 30, 2024.

On Aug. 23, 2024, Simmonds’s father turned in the Smith & Wesson pistol to the Springfield Police Department. Investigators later learned that the pistol had been stolen.

Following his arrest, Simmonds told investigators he had been using marijuana daily since he was 11 or 12 years old, that he had been using opioids since he was around 15 or 16, and had been using fentanyl.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Christian County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.

Republic man killed as Freightliner collides with motorcycle

A Republic man was killed in a two-vehicle collision 1:15 p.m. Saturday on Sawyer Road west of Highway MM in Republic.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2007 Freightliner driven by a 49-year-old Kansas City man made a left turn into the path of a 2022 Kawasaki motorcycle driven by a 67-year-old Republic man, who was ejected from the vehicle.

Dr. Kari Cooper pronounced the man dead at Cox South Hospital at 2:07 p.m.

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

Aurora man killed in ATV accident

An Aurora man was killed in a one-vehicle accident 5:11 a.m. today on Farm Road 1245 seven miles northwest of Cape Fair.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2002 Yamaha ATV driven by a 24-year-old Aurora man traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned ejecting the driver.

The driver was pronounced dead at Cox Branson Hospital at 6 a.m.

The fatality was the 108th fatality for Highway Patrol Troop D.

Springfield man sentenced to 15 months for stealing mail from post office boxes

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

On Sept. 30, 2025, a Springfield, Mo., resident, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen Bough, to a period of imprisonment for 15 months, for his theft of mail matter from residential post office boxes.

Anthony Renell Williams, 45, pleaded guilty to a single count indictment on March 31, 2025, charging him with theft of mail on March 16, 2023. 

 Williams was observed by several Springfield, Mo., residence walking throughout various neighborhoods and stopping at the post office boxes of several residence. Witnesses contacted the Springfield, Missouri, Police Department to report the suspicious behavior. Springfield Police officers responded and were ultimately able to locate Williams and found he had stolen mail on his person. 

 Inspectors with the United States Postal Inspection Service conducted a further investigation and located security videos from local residences that captured images of Williams stealing mail from the post office boxes of local residences. Williams ultimately confessed to stealing mail, admitting that he had stolen the mail in order to commit fraud, and obtain money that could pay for his drug addiction.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the Springfield, Missouri, Police Department.