Two Springfield residents shot to death, infant left alone at crime scene

(From the Springfield Police Department)

On Dec. 28, 2022, at approximately 10:15 p.m., the Springfield Police Department was dispatched to 2203 N. Link to check the well-being of a male that was suffering from injuries to his face.

When officers arrived, they located a male in the driveway who had been shot several times. The male was transported to a local hospital for treatment but succumbed to his injuries. 

While on scene, officers received information that the male was associated with 2209 N. Link. When they approached that residence, they noticed an infant child inside who appeared to be alone. Officers entered the home to check the well-being of the child and while inside the residence they discovered a deceased female with multiple gunshot wounds. The infant child was transported to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries and released to a family member.

The deceased male was identified as Deundrea Woods, 30. The deceased female was identified as Mackenzie Lashley-Childers, 25. The victims are from Springfield and both of their families have been notified.

 

A suspect has not been identified at this time.

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).

Springfield woman dies from injuries suffered in December 6 accident

 

(From the Springfield Police Department)

On Dec. 6, 2022, at 10:02 am, officers with the Springfield Police Department were dispatched to the area of Campbell Ave. and Walnut Lawn St. for a serious injury crash.

A 2004 Honda CR-V driven by 76-year-old Sharon Walker of Springfield was northbound on Campbell Ave. turning onto westbound Walnut Lawn St. Walker’s vehicle was struck by a southbound 2014 BMW i8 L12 driven by 44-year-old Steven Kitrel of Springfield.

 

Walker was transported to an area hospital for medical treatment. She died of her injuries on Dec. 27, 2022. Walker’s next of kin has been notified.

Impairment is not believed to be a factor. The investigation is ongoing as to the circumstances of the crash. This marks the 27th fatality resulting from a motor vehicle crash in 2022.

Springfield Police investigating accidental shooting of juvenile

(From the Springfield Police Department)

Springfield Police are investigating the accidental shooting death of a juvenile in the 4300 block of West Helen on Dec. 27, 2022. 

The investigation is ongoing, but at this point there appears to be nothing suspicious in nature. More information will be provided as we are able.

Springfield Police arrest juvenile for domestic assault, burglary, assaulting a law enforcement officer

(From the Springfield Police Department)

Last week, officers responded to a domestic assault near the 2000 block of N. Travis Avenue.
The juvenile suspect shot the victim in the shoulder.

The juvenile suspect confronted the victim and two other people about a stolen PlayStation. 

A disturbance ensued and the suspect fired a handgun. During the shooting, the victim was struck in the shoulder one time.

When officers arrived on scene, the juvenile suspect resisted arrest. 

One officer was injured during the arrest. The juvenile suspect was arrested for first degree domestic assault, first degree burglary and 2nd degree assault on a law enforcement officer.

Monett Police Department Monthly Activity Report

 

Springfield Public Schools cancels Thursday classes, athletic events due to extreme weather forecast

(From Springfield Public Schools)

Springfield Public Schools will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 22, due to the forecast for extreme winter weather, including dangerous wind chill and snow during the commute. Both seated classes and live virtual instruction have been canceled for Dec. 22. 

In addition, all activities and athletic games are canceled for Thursday and Friday. Today will be the last day of the first semester. When students return to school Jan. 4, the second semester will begin. For more information, visit the district’s website at sps.org. Thank you.

The National Weather Service has issued a wind chill warning for Thursday afternoon through Saturday. Frostbite and hypothermia can occur quickly in these conditions. 

Individuals are encouraged to limit their exposure to the cold. If you do need to go outside, wear a hat and gloves and dress in warm, layered clothing.

The following links provide additional information about preparing for winter weather:National Weather Service Winter Resources
Missouri Department of Transportation Traveler Information
Greene County Office of Emergency Management


In non-emergency situations, you may also dial 211 to learn more about available community resources.

Springfield, Rogersville men sentenced multi-million-dollar catalytic converter scheme

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

Three Rogersville, Mo., and Springfield, Mo., men have been sentenced in federal court for their roles in a scheme to transport tens of thousands of stolen catalytic converters across state lines as part of a multi-million-dollar business.

“These three defendants were the ringleaders of a scheme that impacted thousands of area residents,” said U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. “We worked closely with a number of our law enforcement partners to shut down their multi-million-dollar operation and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Evan Marshall, 25, of Rogersville, Cody Ryder, 31, of Springfield, and Camren Joseph Davis, 25, of Rogersville, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool on Monday, Dec. 19.

Marshall was sentenced to five years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. The court also imposed a $750,000 money judgment against Marshall to be forfeited to the government, ordered Marshall to pay $19,133 in restitution to victims of the conspiracy who law enforcement were able to identify, and forfeiture to the government of the following items that were seized by law enforcement: 33 rifles, 20 scopes, six shotguns, 26 handguns, a Glock sub conversion kit, eight ammunition magazines, a 2011 Ram 3500 one-ton pickup, a 2004 Dodge Ram, a flatbed trailer, two 42-foot gooseneck flatbed trailers, a 16-foot livestock trailer, a 2021 Load N Go utility trailer, a 2007 car hauler trailer, a Volkswagen dune buggy, two Harley Davidson motorcycles, a 2012 Keystone 5th wheel camper, a Caterpillar skid steer, a 2019 Honda Talon SXS 1000 side by side, a 2016 Polaris RZR side by side, a Polaris Ranger 4x4, and 191 catalytic converters.

Ryder was sentenced to two years and five months in federal prison without parole. Davis was sentenced to five years of probation. The court imposed money judgments against Ryder and Davis to forfeit to the government $125,000 each.

“We are pleased to be a part of, and to see the successful ending, to this long-term investigation,” said Springfield Police Chief Paul Williams. “It is good to see the main participants in this crime being held accountable, and the potential for restitution for victims in our community.”

“Our community is painfully aware that catalytic converter thefts are not victimless crimes,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge of the HSI Kansas City Area of Responsibility Josh Armstrong. “While many may consider catalytic converter thefts to be victimless, all too often criminals involved in these types of thefts sometimes funnel the profits gained to organized criminal networks to fund additional, more dangerous crimes.”

On June 16, 2022, Marshall pleaded guilty to one count of transporting stolen property across state lines. Ryder pleaded guilty on June 13, 2022, and Davis pleaded guilty on April 21, 2022, to their roles in a conspiracy to transport stolen property across state lines.

Co-defendants Enx Khoshaba, 30, Leslie Ice, 38, and Eric Kaltenbach, 38, all of Springfield, and Danielle Ice, 34, of Columbia (formerly of Springfield), have pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy to transport stolen property across state lines and await sentencing.

Marshall admitted that he transported stolen catalytic converters, valued at $1 million or more, across state lines from December 2019 to October 2021. Marshall also admitted that he bought tens of thousands of stolen catalytic converters directly from his co-defendants and from other thieves, and sold the stolen catalytic converters for a total of approximately $1 million.

Marshall began selling the catalytic converters to a company in Mountain Home, Arkansas, in the fall of 2019. At that time, Marshall would purchase junk vehicles and sell the vehicles’ parts, including the catalytic converters. In the late fall of 2019, the owners of the Mountain Home company asked Marshall if he would begin purchasing catalytic converters in southwest Missouri and sell to them exclusively. Marshall agreed to do so; in return, they regularly provided Marshall with cash so that Marshall had the funds to purchase a higher volume of catalytic converters. They also provided Marshall with a list of valuable catalytic converters. By December 2019, Marshall had mostly ceased buying junk vehicles and scrapping them out for parts, and instead began purchasing already-detached catalytic converters from scrap yards and individual sellers.

By January 2020, the owners of the Mountain Home company were wiring Marshall hundreds of thousands of dollars on a monthly basis so that Marshall could purchase a higher volume of detached catalytic converters.

By December 2019, Marshall had also enlisted Davis to work for him and another company, which Marshall also established in December 2019. Davis’s job was to purchase catalytic converters using cash that Marshall provided him. During that time period, Marshall provided Davis with hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash to purchase catalytic converters on Marshall’s behalf. As part of the arrangement, Davis exclusively sold the catalytic converters he purchased to Marshall. On at least one occasion, Marshall provided Davis with $40,000 in cash for the purchase of catalytic converters on Marshall’s behalf.

Davis admitted that he bought at least 1,500 stolen catalytic converters from various thieves and sold them to Marshall for a total of approximately $250,000.

In February 2021, Marshall enlisted Ryder to work for him and his company. As with Davis, Ryder’s job was to purchase catalytic converters using cash that Marshall provided him. From February 2021 through October 2021, Marshall provided Ryder with hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash to purchase catalytic converters on Marshall’s behalf. As part of the arrangement, Ryder exclusively sold the catalytic converters he purchased to Marshall. On at least one occasion, Marshall provided Ryder with $10,000 in cash for the purchase of catalytic converters on Marshall’s behalf.

Ryder admitted that he bought at least 1,500 stolen catalytic converters from thieves and sold them to Marshall for an aggregate amount of approximately $250,000.

Many of the catalytic converters that Davis and Ryder purchased with the cash Marshall provided them were stolen, and Marshall knew at the time that many of them were stolen. Marshall paid Davis and Ryder an agreed-upon percentage amount over their purchase price for the catalytic converters, less the amount of cash Marshall had fronted them.

From December 2019 through October 2021, in addition to utilizing Davis and Ryder as buyers of stolen catalytic converters, Marshall also purchased stolen catalytic converters directly from thieves. In July 2020, a Springfield, Mo., police detective contacted Marshall regarding the purchase of catalytic converters from individuals known to be thieves. Despite being put on notice that he was purchasing stolen catalytic converters, Marshall continued to purchase stolen catalytic converters, including from at least one of the individuals identified by the detective.

Marshall admitted that he knowingly purchased stolen catalytic converters from co-defendants Davis, Ryder, Ice, Kaltenbach, Khoshaba, and at least six other thieves. Marshall transported and sold almost all of the catalytic converters, including the stolen catalytic converters, to the owners of the Mountain Home business.

Marshall, Davis, Ryder and others loaded the catalytic converters, including the stolen catalytic converters, into bins that were placed on trailers at Marshall’s residence. They hauled the trailers, which each contained between 800 and 1,200 catalytic converters, many of which were stolen, from Rogersville to Mountain Home. Marshall transported catalytic converters from Rogersville to Mountain Home approximately every two weeks from December 2019 through October 2021.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shannon T. Kempf and Anthony Brown. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Christian County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Webster County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Missouri Department of Revenue and the Greene County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney.

Cassville Police investigating arson at Probation and Parole office

 

Springfield Board of Education approves bond proposal for April 4 ballot

(From Springfield Public Schools)

On April 4, Springfield Public Schools will ask voters to authorize the district to issue general obligation bonds in the amount of $220 million for the purpose of completing projects that will impact all schools in the district.

If voters approve the request, there would be no increase to the district’s current debt service property tax levy. The current rate of 73 cents per $100 of assessed valuation of real estate and personal property would remain unchanged and will be used to cover the cost of improvements.

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The bond proposal, known as Proposition S, was recommended by a citizen task force, which studied the needs of all district facilities and prioritized these projects to provide quality learning environments for all students and to enhance the safety and security of schools.

The Community Task Force on Facilities, comprised of more than 30 students, parents and community members from across the district, spent the past five months studying and evaluating the current condition of SPS schools. Co-chairs David Hall and Bridget Dierks presented the task force’s recommendations to the Board of Education in October. The school board voted Dec. 13 to move forward with placing a request on the April 4 ballot.


A similar process was used in developing recommendations for the successful 2019 bond proposal, which invested $168 million in SPS schools. By January 2023, SPS will have completed all projects promised by the 2019 bond on time with funds remaining. As a result, extra projects were completed with 2019 bond funds, including new storm shelter gymnasiums at Field and Twain elementary schools, Phase 2 renovations of Hillcrest High School and construction of a new York Elementary School.

"It is important that we continue the momentum to address remaining critical needs with our schools," Hall explained. "The 2019 bond made a significant impact and now we have the opportunity to positively impact more students and staff without raising the debt service levy.”

"The task force spent significant time touring schools, reviewing data and discussing possible projects,” Dierks said. "As a group, we reached consensus that these projects were the most critical and would benefit the most students."

The Projects

In April, voters will be asked to approve funding for the following projects:

Safety and security upgrades at all schools including door access sensors and alarms, security camera upgrades, roof access sensors and alarms, and protective glass film for ground-floor windows. ($6.9 million)

Construction of a new Pipkin Middle School ($53 million)

Construction of a new Reed Academy ($59.5 million)

 
Renovation of Pershing School ($50 million)

Construction of storm shelters at Cowden, Holland, Mann, Pittman, Watkins, and Wilder elementary schools ($30.3 million)

(Note: To cover any potential inflation in cost of construction, labor or materials, $19.7 million will be reserved for use as needed. Any remaining funds will be invested in Phase 3 priority projects.)

The Investment

Property taxes are the primary funding source public schools can use to pay for major capital improvements. The $220 million proposal would
not increase the district’s current debt service property tax levy. It would remain at the current 73 cents per $100 of assessed valuation of real estate and personal property.

For More Information

Specific details about each of the proposed projects is currently being developed and will be shared with the community in January 2023.

Springfield man sentenced to 15 years for heroin trafficking, illegal firearm

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

A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute heroin and for illegally possessing a firearm.

Derrick L. Hall, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 15 years in federal prison without parole.

On June 29, 2022, Hall pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute heroin from May 15 to Sept. 18, 2019, and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

According to court documents, Hall sold 14 grams of heroin to a confidential informant on two separate occasions and sold an additional 23 grams of heroin and a firearm to a confidential informant on a third occasion. Hall drove to St. Louis on Aug. 29, 2019, where he obtained approximately 50 grams of heroin that was seized from him in a traffic stop. He returned to St. Louis on Sept. 18, 2019, and encountered law enforcement officers when he returned home.

On Sept. 18, 2019, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Hall’s residence. Officers found a plastic bag that contained approximately 17.4 grams of heroin on top of the bedroom dresser, a plastic bag that contained approximately 48.2 grams of heroin inside a boot that was lying in between the bed and the nightstand, a plastic container that contained a plastic bag with approximately 2.8 grams of heroin on top of the nightstand, and a plastic bag that contained approximately a half gram of heroin in the trash can. Officers found a total of approximately 70 grams of heroin in Hall’s residence, a Sig Sauer firearm with ammunition, and $4,532 in cash inside a purse on the floor of the bedroom closet.

Officers also searched Hall’s car, which was parked in the driveway, and found a plastic bag that contained a white substance (consistent with a cutting agent for heroin) in the trunk of the vehicle. It was found near a bottle of Dormin, which is a cutting agent for heroin, and small plastic baggies, consistent with that used to package user amounts of heroin. Officers also found ammunition in the trunk of Hall’s car.

According to court documents, Hall’s criminal history began in 1987, when he was 17 years old and committed the crime of possession of cocaine. That same year, he attempted to rob someone and when the person said they had nothing for him to take, shot the person in the leg. In 1988 he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for assault and five years for possession of cocaine. In April 2011, Hall sold cocaine to an undercover police officer in St. Louis County, Mo., and was convicted of distributing a controlled substance. Hall also has seven convictions for stealing and was on parole at the time he committed the federal violations in this case.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Josephine L. Stockard. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.