Month: April 2023

From a Springfield Police News Release:

Springfield, Mo. – On April 18, 2023, at 3:58 p.m., the Springfield Police Department responded to 2110 S. Florence Avenue to check the well-being of a female after a caller heard possible gun shots. Officers discovered a male and a female deceased inside the home.     

The Homicide Unit responded to investigate and determined the male suspect, 33-year-old Keith Spellmeier, from Harrison, Arkansas, shot and killed the female victim, 62-year-old Donna J. Spellmeier, from Springfield, inside the residence. Keith then died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.  

The family has been notified.       

Detectives continue to investigate and are asking anyone who has 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).

This is Springfield’s fourth homicide investigation in 2023. 

The Springfield-Greene County Park Board is making their Pool Connection patron safety program voluntary this summer.

Officials say digital photo ID’s will be available, and customers are highly encouraged to apply for one.

The ID’s will include your name, address, phone number, picture and emergency contact information.

If you wish to apply for an ID without a photo, you may do so.

The Director of Parks, Bob Belote, says, “the Pool Connection is all about pool safety. It’s the same system that’s been in place for years for Park Board family centers and indoor pools, and it’s been extremely effective in addressing emergencies and contacting family when necessary.”

The photo ID is not a physical copy, and will be contained within the Park Board ActiveNet program, which can only be accessed by Parks staff members.

Investigators with the Springfield Police Department are searching for suspects in a homicide that occurred in the northwest part of the city.

Officers were called to the area of Forest Avenue and Calhoun Street at around 7:00 p.m. Monday night, where they found a man and woman with multiple gunshot wounds.

The man, 18-year-old Lavelle Rose III, was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman, who has not been identified, was transported by ambulance to a local hospital with what officials say are “non-life threatening injuries”.

It is the third homicide investigation in Springfield so far in 2023.

Police continue to investigate the case, and do not have a suspect at this time.

Two homes in Northwest Springfield have been hit by gunfire early Tuesday morning.

Springfield Police responded to a shots-fired call on West Brower street and found shell casings in the street, and bullet holes in two houses.

No one was injured and no suspect has been arrested.

A Texas County man has been charged with 1st Degree Sodomy after admitting to innapropriately touching a 19 year old.

Raymond S. Rogers, 42, of Success, told deputies he thought the victim “wanted” the interaction.

Police were dispatched to a home on B Highway in the Raymondville area for reports of the sexual assault, but ended up locating Raymond at another residence.

Springfield Police are investigating a fatal shooting in west Springfield Monday night.

It happened in the area of West Calhoun and North Forrest Avenue.

One person is dead, and another is hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

The incident is still under investigation.  

Police are also investigating a shooting that happened earlier Monday in Springfield.

Officers responded to a call around noon at 624 South Nettleton.

They found a man shot in the leg.

They believe he was shot in another location.

His injuries do not appear to be life threatening.

Officers with the Nixa Police Department are trying to locate the suspects in a case of vandalism at a local park’s new playground.

Investigators say they used video camera footage to locate the individuals walking at the back of the X Center, or Nixa Community Center, early Saturday morning.

The suspects used blue spray paint to graffiti the park, causing the city to delay its ribbon cutting ceremony.

The playground finished being installed just a few weeks ago.

Springfield’s City Clerk says the ammended petition submitted by the owner of the haunted house “Hotel of Terror” does have enough signitures to move forward.

City Council must vote on whether to repeal the decision to use eminent domain to take over the property on Main Street or call a special election to let voters decide.

The ordinance would remain suspended until the vote. Hotel of Terror owner Sterling Mathis says he is grateful for the public support.

According to Springfield Police, the Hotel of Terror was vandalized on Sunday night, April 16th, just before 11 PM. Officers have reports of individuals spray painting the side of the bulding. They found potential suspects near the building in dark clothing, but they managed to get away.

Police are looking for a driver who hit a pedestrian in Springfield Sunday night, then fled the scene.

It happened between 8:30 and 9 p.m. at the intersection of Walnut and Kimbrough.

The pedestrian was rushed to a local hospital, but there is no update on their injuries.

Officers are looking for a white SUV seen leaving the area.

Hail up to the size of baseballs accompanied severe thunderstorms that moved across the Ozarks Saturday afternoon.

By 5:30 p.m., the remaining severe thunderstorm/tornado warnings had expired for the KWTO listening area, and only a few counties in the eastern Ozarks remained under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 7:00 p.m. Saturday.

We had baseball size hail reports in Bolivar, Urbana, and Arcola (Dade County), and tennis ball size hail in Republic as storms moved into the Springfield metro area.

In Barton County, teacup size hail (3.00 inch) was reported just after 2:00 p.m. in the Milford area of Barton County.

Here are some of the other large hail reports we received from the National Weather Service, ham radio operators, and emergency managers:

Highway 160 between Reeds Spring and Walnut Shade: Egg size hail (2.00 inch) reported at 4:05 p.m.

2 miles north of Republic: Tennis ball size hail (2.50 inch) reported at 3:43 p.m.

2 miles northeast of Springfield: Golf ball size hail (1.75 inch) reported at 4:04 p.m.

North of Urbana (Dallas County): Baseball size hail reported at 3:14 p.m.

Ping pong ball size hail reported on Highway 73 north of Tunas at 3:06 p.m.

Golf ball size hail reported in Urbana at 3:00 p.m.

Golf ball size hail reported four miles northeast of Bolivar at 2:53 p.m.

Ping pong ball size hail reported two miles northeast of Bolivar at 2:50 p.m.

Baseball size hail (2.75 inch) reported four miles east of Arcola at 2:22 p.m.

Egg size hail (2.00 inch) reported in Pittsburg (Hickory County) and Jerico Springs (Cedar County) at 2:20 p.m.

Tennis ball size hail reported seven miles north of Golden City (Barton County) at 1:58 p.m.

Half dollar size hail (1.25 inch) reported in Lamar at 1:39 p.m.

Golf ball size hail reported southwest of Boston (Barton County) at 1:31 p.m.

Golf ball size hail reported 2 miles northwest of Nashville (Barton County) at 1:15 p.m.

Monster hail 5 miles southwest of Arcola, MO… along HWY 97 north of Lockwood, MO

Seeing some 3.0” to 4.0” diameter #mowx@NWSSpringfield pic.twitter.com/sWnJtau5uF

— Michael Seger (@MichaelSeger) April 15, 2023