Ad Choices, According to a news release from the Dallas County Sheriffs Office, According to court documents cited by WDAF-TV, The Sheriffs Office said in a news release, detonated an explosive device near the fire, Murder charges filed on the Cassidy Rainwater case Dallas County Sheriffs Office Facebook, Murder charges filed in death of southwest Missouri woman as grisly details revealed - Kansas City Star, Cassidy Rainwater case: Home of alleged kidnapper burns down after new evidence uncovered, 10/7/21 - TCD, 2 Missouri men arrested for allegedly keeping missing woman in a cage, 9/30/21 - TCD, Missouri men accused of keeping missing woman locked in cage, court records say, 9/28/2021 - WDAF. No official motive in Rainwaters killing has been disclosed. I feel like theyre kind of taking the story and running with it and maybe making it hyped up to more than what it really is. He said that Cassidy had been staying with him until she could get back on her feet, court records say. We could feel the heat, said Nicholson. Man accused in grisly Missouri murder makes surprise decision hours before hearing, Murder charges filed in death of southwest Missouri woman as grisly details revealed, Missing 22-year-old Kansas City man has been found safe: police, Thanks to Missouris voter ID law, Kansas Citians must pay to vote. Other photos allegedly showed "Cassidy's body bound to a gantry crane, commonly used for deer processing, and her evisceration and dismemberment. The Missouri State Fire Marshals Office launched an investigation after the fire caused a total loss to the home. It was not immediately clear if Phelps had an attorney. Mr Norton will reportedly plead not guilty and appear in court on Friday, after admitting that he strangled Ms Rainwater, according to Fox4. Police have not yet given a motive for the grisly crime, but they say Phelps and Norton planned it in advance. Phelps and Norton were initially charged with one count of first-degree kidnapping, facilitating a felony, inflicting injury, and terrorizing. A woman whose remains were found in September was kept in a cage before being murdered, eviscerated, and dismembered, according murder charges filed against two Missouri men. In a September announcement of Phelps arrest, Sheriff Scott Rice had said, Due to the extreme nature of the crime and the continuation of the investigation, additional details cannot be released at this time., Editors picks He said she had been talking about going to Colorado. Sheriff's deputies were contacted in late August by a woman who said Rainwater hadn't been seen for a month and Phelps was the last person she was seen with. Phelps home was later burned to the ground after his arrest. TIMELINE: The death and disappearance of Cassidy Rainwater in Dallas County, Mo. Investigators determined it to be arson. Whether its a short vacation or theyre jetting off to begin their career, show the future traveler you care with a meaningful graduation gift. Phelps then said that Rainwater had been staying with him until she could get back on her feet, according to the probable-cause statement related to the initial charges filed against Phelps. Sheriff Scott Rice addressed the misinformation and rumors about the case in another Facebook post on Oct. 7. At the time he told investigators he had not seen. Cassidy was reported missing by a family member in August but reports say she was last seen on July 25th. The 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time. Deputies report they found other DNA belonging to Cassidy on an adjacent property belonging to the late Bill Rainwater, Cassidy's grandfather. Investigators with the Missouri State Fire Marshals Office concluded that an Oct. 4 house fire at the center of a kidnapping case in Dallas County was a result of arson. Police found some inaccuracies in his story. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Authorities later learned that she was talking about James Phelps. We want to hear it. ", They also found skeletal remains at an adjoining property, which "were confirmed by the crime lab to be Cassidy Rainwater.". Additional reporting by The Associated Press. (KY3) - One of two men accused of kidnapping and killing Cassidy Rainwater in Dallas County entered an Alford plea for first-degree murder. what really happened to Cassidy Rainwater. "Phelps stated he had not seen Cassidy since.". Norton was interviewed again on Sept. 20 at the Dallas County Sheriffs Office. James Phelps, 58, and Timothy Norton, 56, have been charged with the kidnapping of Cassidy Rainwater. DALLAS COUNTY, Mo. During that hearing, Judge John C. Porter ruled against a bond request filed by Phelps attorney. James Phelps, 58, and Timothy Norton, 56, have been in custody since mid-September, charged with first-degree kidnapping, facilitating a felony, inflicting injury and terrorizing. Phelps and Norton appeared before a Dallas County judge via a webcam over their kidnapping charges, represented by different public defenders. A family member contacted the Dallas County Sheriffs Office saying they had not seen Rainwater or heard from her for an unspecified amount of time. The woman was described as sleeping when the attack took place. According to court documents, hed told agents Phelps asked him to come over while Rainwater was sleeping. They Refused to Fight for Russia. Several hours later, the bomb squad detonated the suspicious device. The home accused kidnapper James Phelps was staying atburned to the ground late Mondaynight, and a bomb squad from Springfield was sent to investigate. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. He told authorities she left in the middle of the night and never came back. Porter anticipated Phelps' trial would occur in the summer of 2025, which would be four years after Rainwater's death. Rachel Nicholson, who moved to Lebanon recently, said she saw the home go up in flames from a distance. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Digital evidence found at the scene revealed messages between Phelps and Norton planning Rainwater's death, the sheriff said. Norton was arrested Sept. 21. James Phelps and Timothy Norton appeared in court Tuesday. Phelps, 58, was arrested on September 16 after investigators found seven photos on his phone showing Rainwater half-naked and being held in a cage at his home in Lebanon, Missouri. . A trial date had not been set. The FBI contacted Dallas County Sheriff's Office saying they had received an anonymous tip that Cassidy Rainwater was caged up on a property rented by Phelps. Also on Friday, according to online court records, Judge Jill Porter sentenced Phelps to life in prison with no chance for parole. On Wednesday, the Dallas County Sheriffs Department announced the murder charges against Timothy Norton, 56, and James Phelps, 58, in a statement on Facebook, and court documents reveal new disturbing details of the case. The home Phelps rented on Moon Valley Road in Dallas County was burned to the ground in the late-evening hours. In the report, investigators claimed they found the explosive device in a mortar tube with a balloon cover, which featured tripwires. Wiliams lives in Urbana, about half an hour away from the site of Monday nights fire. He wrote: While I understand the impatience and curiosity of the people, Im going to give you a piece of advice. The men also were charged with abandonment of a corpse. I dont understand what makes people get like that, says Williams. When police visited Phelps property, they found the same scene from the photographs provided by the FBI, according to an affidavit by Dallas County Sheriffs Department Sergeant Robby Simmons. Dallas County Sheriff's Office Phelps' home was destroyed by fire on Oct. 4. According to the Kansas City Star, the kidnapping charge was upgraded on Wednesday to first-degree murder and abandonment of a corpse. In a Springfield Bomb Squad report, investigators said they found an incendiary device during a fire at the home connected to James Phelps. Nov 17, 2021 Updated Dec 12, 2022. On Aug. 25, police spoke to Phelps, who allegedly claimed Rainwater had been staying with him temporarily, and then one night, left likely for Colorado. ", After the 33-year-old woman was dead, "he and Phelps took a short break before carrying her body outside," according to the statement. The Springfield Bomb Squad removed the device without any injuries to those handling the device. The address listed for him on online court systems and court documents showed the same address as James Phelps home on Moon Valley Road. In partnership with A van was found on the property that is similar to the van linked to the 3 missing women from 1992. Phelps is due in court this Friday, and Norton will appear on Nov. 23. According to additional court documents released in September, KY3 learned that Timothy Norton was called to the house by James Phelps one day earlier for help in restraining Cassidy Rainwater. Sheriffs officials have said that Phelps said he did but that he hadnt spoken to her in roughly a month. Shes a member of the investigative team focusing on watchdog journalism. The mystery surrounding the fate of a Missouri woman who vanished over the summer has finally been solvedbut the details about what really happened to Cassidy Rainwater are more ghastly than anyone could have imagined. The investigation remains ongoing. I am very upset by it.. Cassidy Rainwater, 33, was reported missing in late August, having been last seen with someone identified as James Rainwater. They allegedly recovered messages between Phelps and Norton planning Rainwaters murder on Jul. Waiting for your permission to load facebook comments. A report, first obtained by local news outlet, Murder Charges Filed, Human Remains Found in Missouri Case That Fueled Gruesome TikTok Rumors, It Is Easy for a Person to Disappear: Accused Murderer Suggests Missing Wife Ran Away, E. Jean Carroll Recounts Extremely Painful Rape, Trump Stays Home Shitposting, Too Twee or Not Too Twee: Meet the People Behind the Wes Anderson TikTok Trend, CIA Director, Noam Chomsky Named in Epstein's Private Calendar: Report, Drake, Will Arnett Celebrate Toronto Maple Leafs' (Long-Awaited) Postseason Triumph, Meet the YouTube Creator Busting Crypto Scams, Twitter to Allow Media Publishers to Charge Per Article, Want to Make Cash As a Creator? Because prosecutors have announced their intention to seek the death penalty, Phelps is represented by the capital division of Missouri's Public Defender office. James Phelps, 58, and . Officials investigating the fire found two explosive devices made with mortar tubes and balloon covers, with tripwires attached, near the home. On Sept. 16, the FBI contacted Dallas County detectives with the photographs. She said she cant wrap her head around all of this. Very few details on this case have been released by the Dallas County Sheriffs Office, including whether Cassidy Rainwater has been found. Phelps, 60, is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and abandonment of a corpse in the case of 33-year-old Cassidy Rainwater. Missing Missouri Woman Was Gutted and Stashed in Freezer, Police Reveal SCENE OF HORROR Cassidy Rainwater's alleged kidnappers have been unmasked as her alleged murderers, as police reveal. An amended criminal complaint shows the two men each still face a kidnapping charge as well as a felony count of abandonment of a corpse, saying they knowingly disposed of the corpse of Cassidy Rainwater at or near Phelps property without notifying authorities. Authorities say remains found at the southwest Missouri home were those of a missing woman, 33-year-old Cassidy Rainwater. A missing persons case in southwest Missouri has shaken three counties to their core after the two men involved in Cassidy Rainwater's kidnapping were arrested in Lebanon. No motive has been revealed in connection with Rainwater's brutal killing. James Phelps and Timothy L. Norton have been charged with kidnapping 33-year-old Cassidy Rainwater who was reported missing on July 24. Im continuing to pray for her family. The next court hearings are currently set for Feb. 8 for Timothy Norton and Feb. 18 for James Phelps. "Norton stated, after entering the house, he held Cassidy's legs down while Phelps strangled her and placed a bag over her head. 16:05 BST 18 Nov 2021 This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Man charged in Cassidy Rainwater death enters plea, sentenced to life, Popular Mobile Games You Must Play In 2023, according to Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute, Murder charges filed, gruesome details released in Cassidy Rainwater case, Man charged in Cassidy Rainwater death enters plea, sentenced to life. The murder charges were announced on Wednesday. During these upcoming court proceedings, a range of documents and evidence could be presented to the judges, defense and prosecution before the cases head to trial. One day later, police brought back Norton to interview him again. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. The woman recalled Rainwater as being friendly. She was reported missing in late August 2021 by a woman named Cora Terry. DALLAS COUNTY, Mo. A lawyer for Norton previously denied the kidnapping allegations and could not be reached on Thursday for comment on the murder charges. DNA tests positively identified human remains found in a freezer at a Missouri home as missing woman Cassidy Rainwater; Rainwater, 33, was last seen on July 24 at James Phelps' home, but she was . If these people have committed such horrible crimes as they are accused, I hope the legal system prosecutes them to the fullest extent, said the woman. Breaks Down His Killer White House Correspondents Dinner Set, Pharrells Something in the Water Fest Cancels Final Day Due to Severe Weather, Stagecoach: Kane Brown Breaks Mental Health Stigma With 'Memory,' Talks Depression, Bernie Sanders: Many GOP Leaders 'Don't Even Believe in Democracy'. Preliminary hearings for Phelps and Norton, originally set for the first week of February, have been postponed. Meanwhile, investigators returned to the scene of the fire during daylight hours to analyze the area. Cassidy Rainwater, 33, was reported missing Aug. 25, and had last been seen six weeks earlier with Phelps. Terry told authorities that the last time Rainwater was seen was about six weeks earlier and she believed that a James Rainwater was the last person to see her. Sheriff Rice said Phelps were classmates in school and friends for several decades. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Rainwater has ties to the Kansas City area. Skeletal remains believed to be Rainwaters were located on the adjacent property. It allows the defendant to accept a guilty verdict without a criminal trial, according to Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute. Per court records, James Phelps told police the last time he saw Cassidy was on this day. An Alford plea does not admit guilt but acknowledges that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict if the case had gone to trial. DALLAS COUNTY, Mo. When investigators searched Phelps property, court documents say they found Rainwaters remains in a deep freezer in packages labeled 7-24, the last day Rainwater is believed to be alive. 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The flesh from the freezer also yielded a DNA match for Rainwater. He can fix it, Mtley Cre let out their Wild Side rocking NFL Draft stage in Kansas City, NFL executive thanks KC for hosting Draft, says attendance slightly exceeded projection, Photos: Travis Kelce, Machine Gun Kelly, a smashed Super Bowl trophy. Some photos showed the womans body bound to a gantry crane, commonly used for deer processing, and her evisceration and dismemberment, the Dallas County Sheriffs Department posted on its Facebook page back then. Per court documents, investigators say Norton admitted that Phelps asked him to help kill Rainwater while she was staying at Phelps home. Fire crews from multiple stations were working to put out hotspots. In a 2003 yearbook from Harrisonville High School in Cass County, shes listed as a freshman. Cassidy Rainwater, the missing Missouri woman who was allegedly kidnapped in the Ozarks and kept in a cage, has ties to the Kansas City area. Digital. James Phelps, 58, and Timothy Norton, 56, were hit with the murder counts as well as being charged with abandonment of a corpse. I refuse to do it | Opinion, Clark Hunt says hes surprised Chiefs players griped about facilities. KY3 spoke to a woman who lives near the home. Dallas County Judge Jill Porter sentenced Phelps to life in prison without parole. Geo resource failed to load. Police note that their investigation into Rainwater's murder continues, and asks that anyone who believes they may information concerning this case call the Dallas County Sheriff's Office at 417-345-2441. Norton reportedly assisted Phelps in carrying Rainwaters body back inside the residence and into a bathtub. Springfield City Officials say they dont have any further information at this time. Two weeks ago, FBI investigators from Kansas City got an anonymous tip that someone was holding Rainwater in a cage on some property near Lebanon. On Wednesday, the Dallas County Sheriffs Department announced the murder charges. Murder charges have been filed in Missouri against two men accused of killing and dismembering Cassidy Rainwater . Norton said he held Rainwater down while Phelps put a plastic bag over her head and strangled her, according to Rice. Cassidy Rainwater's remains were found labeled "7-24" in a freezer. by: Ashley Eddy, Emilee Kuschel, Bailey Strohl, Chris Six, Carrie Winchel. Warning: This story contains graphic descriptions of violence. The defense opposed this request based on state Supreme Court requirement that allows for only a 30-day period. Mr Phelps and Mr Norton, who are due to appear in court, had already been charged with kidnapping before being issued with higher charges on Wednesday. Upon further investigation, digital messages were reportedly found revealing Phelps' and Timothy Nortons plans to murder Rainwater. Admonishing true crime fans who were sitting in their apartment or their mommy and daddys basement eating Great Value cheese puffs and drinking box wine, he went on to say that the public should stop hanging on very word is this type of crap. The public defenders did not request bond during the hearing. Cassidy Rainwater (Dallas County Sheriff's Office) Some of Rainwater's remains were found in an adjacent property and in a freezer with "7-24" written on them, authorities said. Some of the woman's body parts were later found in a freezer, he said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. **DISCLAIMER - Some people may find further details in this story to be disturbing.**. The Law Did Not Treat Them Kindly. A judge initially set a preliminary hearing in both for Nov. 5. New motions filed in James. Norton told FBI agents that Phelps had him come over while Cassidy was sleeping in the living room floor, so he had easy access to attack Cassidy, the sheriffs office said. Cassidy Rainwater's remains found on accused kidnappers' property in Missouri, court docs reveal During a search, investigators on the scene of the Moon Valley Road property found the. Additionally, 200 pieces of evidence were reportedly recovered, including digital evidence from electronic devices. When police followed up on this. (TCD) -- Two Missouri men accused of kidnapping Cassidy Rainwater also face murder charges after Rainwaters dismembered remains were found in a freezer and on a nearby property. Norton's lawyer, Brenden Twibell, told the Springfield News-Leader the new charges were expected and Norton will plead not guilty. Because of both the complexity of death penalty cases and full case loads for a small staff, they tend to be more drawn out. Authorities searched the area to figure out how the fire started and if there could be more tripwires than one spotted near the home. Phelps' house later burned to the ground in what investigators determined was arson. The Ozarks home where 33-year-old Cassidy Rainwater was allegedly kept in captivity burned to the ground after authorities found a tripwire and a "live incendiary device." A search warrant executed at Phelps home uncovered photos of a partially clothed female in a cage who we recognized as Cassidy, police said in a statement Wednesday. He wrote that he was upset with social media and bloggers thinking they knew what happened. About a week later, a Dallas County detective went to Moon Valley Road and spoke to Phelps about the missing-person case. Rice said Norton told investigators Phelps asked him to help kill Rainwater on July 24 while she was staying at Phelps' home. During the hearing, prosecutors asked for 45 days until the preliminary hearing due to the number of witnesses needed. Rumours about what happened to Ms Rainwater forced Scott Rice, the Dallas County sheriff, to decry what he called Fake News on Facebook in October. On Monday, the Dallas County Sheriffs Officereleased a statement on Facebookstating that the FBI has recovered several items that will be used to further the investigation. Authorities arrested Phelps and then found the slew of evidence on his property that was revealed by the sheriffs office on Wednesday. Phelps lawyer has not commented on the previous charges and did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the murder charges. James Phelps, 58, and Timothy Norton, 56, have been in custody since. The two later carried her dismembered body inside to the bathtub. James D. Phelps, 60, was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and abandonment of a corpse . DNA tests returned to Dallas County Sheriff Scott Rice confirmed Rainwaters flesh was found in a freezer. She asked us to conceal her identity for her protection. In the weeks following the arrest, rumors spread on TikTok that the two men had been butchering humans and storing, even selling, their meat. The little I did watch I didnt hear anything bad, and then all of a sudden Im hearing about a guy whos got women locked up, and possible torture. (TCD) -- Two Missouri men accused of kidnapping Cassidy Rainwateralso face murder charges after Rainwater's dismembered remains were found in a freezer and on a nearby property. , updated (KY3) - A man has been arrested in the case of missing woman Cassidy Rainwater. In another strange development, on Oct. 4, a fire started at Phelps property where Rainwaters remains were found burned the house to the ground. Due to the nature of the plea, there was no criminal trial. Murder charges filed, gruesome details released in Cassidy Rainwater case. According to court documents, investigators recovered more than 200 pieces of evidence at the home and determined that Rainwaters body had been dismembered. A home belonging to James Phelps. Investigators say they dismembered her body in a bathtub. Two men are charged with her murder after photos showed her evisceration and dismemberment By Andrea Marks November 18,. The plea came several days after Phelps was granted a change of venue with parties agreeing to move his trial to Jasper County because of extensive media coverage in Dallas County. On Sept. 16, investigators received a search warrant for James Phelps' cell phone, and court records say they found seven photos of Cassidy Rainwater partially nude being held in a cage on his . It was unclear Thursday if either man had gone before a judge to plead to the new murder charge. Some skeletal remains believed to be Rainwater were located on the adjacent property, authorities said. James Phelps, 58, is charged alongside. Terms of Use | Nortons attorney has said he intends to plead not guilty. During the investigation, detectives identified Timothy Norton as being connected to the case. Cassidy Rainwater's remains were recently identified. On Sept. 16, investigators received a search warrant for James Phelps' cellphone, and court records say they found seven photos of Cassidy Rainwater partially nude being held in a cage on his property on Moon Valley Road in Lebanon in Dallas County. The RENPHO Foot Massager Machine may be just the gift to make Mothers Day extra special for your mom this year. She is listed as a freshman in the 2003 yearbook from . Rainwater, 33, was reported missing on Aug. 26, 2021, after having last been seen in mid-July. KOLR-TV was in the courtroom Tuesday, and a judge set preliminary hearings for both men at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 5. Court documents reveal that beyond showing Rainwater in a cage, additional photos the FBI had shared with county detectives in September showed Rainwaters body bound to a gantry crane device (commonly used for processing wild game), and depicted her evisceration and dismemberment. Authorities had also found what were confirmed by lab testing to be Rainwaters remains packaged in a freezer and dated 7-24, court documents said, and had discovered skeletal remains on the property that they believe to be Rainwaters, as well. Dallas County Sheriff Scott Rice says investigators have not located any evidence leading them to believe there are any other victims or suspects associated with Phelps and Norton at this time. Norton then admitted that after arriving at Phelps home he did physically confine CR by holding her down for a substantial period of time, for the purpose of facilitating the commission of a felony, or inflicting physical injury on, or terrorizing CR, the document said. 18:16 BST 18 Nov 2021. Sheriff Rice said more of her remains were found scattered on a nearby property belonging to her grandfather Bill Rainwater. He said that Rainwater had been talking about going to Colorado. Rainwater, 33, has been missing since late July, and court documents say investigators. By More: Murder charges filed, gruesome details released in Cassidy Rainwater case. Two men charged in September with felony kidnapping have now been charged with murder in the missing persons case of Cassidy Rainwater, a Missouri woman who appeared caged and partially nude in photos sent to the FBI. Authorities say they have no reason to believe there are any other victims associated with Phelps and Norton at this time.. 2023 Rolling Stone, LLC. Messages between Phelps and Norton showed the two men planning the murder of Cassidy Rainwater, police said. Those items were dated July 24. In the weeks that followed, Phelps and co-defendant Timothy Norton pleaded not guilty to new criminal charges. Rainwater was last seen in July and was reported missing in late August. On September 16, investigators received a search warrant for James Phelps' cell phone, and court records say they found seven photos of Cassidy Rainwater partially nude being held in a cage. He also told the deputy that at the end of July 2021, Rainwater had left in the middle of the night and met with someone in a vehicle at the end of the driveway and he had not seen or heard from her since.
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