An award-winning journalist who has worked forRolling Stone and MTV News, Chris enjoys prog rock, cycling, Marvel movies, IPAs, and roller coasters. 2 killed, 4 wounded in Mississippi shooting; man arrested, 150 years later, Dixon bridge tragedy among nation's worst, Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy says he wants to 'shut down the FBI' and replace it with something that sounds a lot like the FBI, Sanders: Biden could win in a landslide, Sunny Hostin Responded To Meghan McCain's Recent Scathing Criticism Of "The View" And Thinks She'd Be Great For "Housewives", Possible tornado damage in Fort Hood, Texas, Colts chart new QB path with 1st-round pick Richardson. His attorneys said they will ask a judge to set a bond. Everything was on fire, and we sat there and watched it collapse. No motive has been revealed in connection with Rainwater's brutal killing. Dallas County Sheriff's Office Detectives then identified. He said she had been talking about going to Colorado. Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Attorneys have scheduled preliminary hearings for the two men charged with killing Dallas County woman, Cassidy Rainwater.. James Phelps appeared via video in Dallas County court on Friday morning as attorneys set the date for his preliminary hearing, where it will be determined if the state has enough evidence to move ahead in charging Phelps with first-degree murder, abandonment of a corpse . One day later, police brought back Norton to interview him again. 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. Other photos allegedly showed "Cassidy's body bound to a gantry crane, commonly used for deer processing, and her evisceration and dismemberment. The Springfield 3. Cassidy Rainwater murder suspect gets life in prison. The home Phelps rented on Moon Valley Road in Dallas County was burned to the ground in the late-evening hours. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. On October 4, a fire that investigators have ruled an arson destroyed Phelps' home. In the report, investigators claimed they found the explosive device in a mortar tube with a balloon cover, which featured tripwires. Some skeletal remains believed to be Rainwater were located on the adjacent property, authorities said. After receiving the information from the FBI, deputies went back out to Moon Valley Road and recognized items in Phelps backyard that coincided with the photos.. Police say items from the freezer that appeared to be human flesh have been positively identified as Rainwaters remains, and skeletal remains belonging to her were also uncovered. ", The statement adds: "Detectives recognized items in Phelps back yard that coincided with the photos. 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. Norton was arrested on September 20 after speaking to authorities. ", After the 33-year-old woman was dead, "he and Phelps took a short break before carrying her body outside," according to the statement. According to court documents, hed told agents Phelps asked him to come over while Rainwater was sleeping. Heres How, Roy Wood Jr. Phelps lawyer has not commented on the previous charges and did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the murder charges. Phelps will be in court in Dallas County on Friday . Phelps told police at the time that Rainwater had been staying with him until she could get back on her feet, according to court documents, and that she had talked about going to Colorado before disappearing in the middle of the night about a month earlier. Cassidy was reported missing by a family member in August but reports say she was last seen on July 25th. 24. Nortons attorney has said he intends to plead not guilty. Preliminary hearings for Phelps and Norton, originally set for the first week of February, have been postponed. 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. One of the two men charged in the Dallas County kidnapping and death of Cassidy Rainwater entered an Alford plea on Friday and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. (KY3) - The worst fears of Cassidy Rainwater's family and friends were confirmed Wednesday. In a hearing in Dallas County, James Phelps who was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Cassidy Rainwater entered an Alford plea in the case. Nms is the Arabic word (Greek "") of a concept of an ethical category, a virtue, in Middle Eastern patriarchal character. 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. 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The RENPHO Foot Massager Machine may be just the gift to make Mothers Day extra special for your mom this year. On Sept. 1, a detective spoke to Phelps at his home in Lebanon. 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 Rainwater was last seen alive in mid-July. All a sudden, the house collapsed and the flames got bigger. Authorities searched the area to figure out how the fire started and if there could be more tripwires than one spotted near the home. The bomb squad arrived around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday and shortly after, they detonated an explosive device near the area of the fire. (KY3) - A man has been arrested in the case of missing woman Cassidy Rainwater. Cassidy Rainwater Dallas County Sheriff's Office That tip led the FBI to Dallas County, about 160 miles southeast of Kansas City, and launched what became a secretive, weeks-long criminal. Attorneys filed a motion to request a change in the criminal case of James Phelps, one of two men accused in the kidnapping of Cassidy Rainwater. He had spoken to a detective previously on Sept. 1, 2021, and reportedly said that Cassidy was staying with him until she could make it on her own and mentioned going to Colorado. Investigators searched Phelps' home near Lebanon, Missouri, for seven days and found the gantry crane, cage and items in the freezer that appeared to be 'human flesh,' Rice said. When investigators searched Phelps' property, court documents say they found Rainwater's remains in a deep freezer in packages labeled 7-24, the last day Rainwater is believed to be alive.. Two men are charged with her murder after photos showed her evisceration and dismemberment By Andrea Marks November 18,. James Phelps and Timothy L. Norton have been charged with kidnapping 33-year-old Cassidy Rainwater who was reported missing on July 24. I cant fathom what her family is experiencing and Im heartily sorry that it happened so close to my home.. James Phelps, 58, is charged alongside. More than a month after their arrests, no additional charges had been filed against Phelps and Norton. However, if anyone has new information concerning the case of her death or disappearance, they are encouraged to contact the Dallas County Sheriffs Office at 417-345-2441. According to court records, attorneys for Norton filed a motion to address his bond and possibly seek a release from jail, though the motion was not approved. Springfield City Officials say they dont have any further information at this time. Court records say Phelps had seven photos of Rainwater on his cellphone that showed her partially nude body inside the cage in the small, rundown home where he was living. The red dot is where Phelps' cabin sits. "Norton told FBI agents that Phelps had him come over while Cassidy was sleeping [on] the living room floor, so he had easy access to attack Cassidy," reads the statement. Per court records, that is when he admitted details to authorities about restraining Rainwater back in July. 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. Whether its a short vacation or theyre jetting off to begin their career, show the future traveler you care with a meaningful graduation gift. Per court records, James Phelps told police the last time he saw Cassidy was on this day. 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. Prosecutors previously charged Phelps and Norton with kidnapping over the disappearance of Rainwater in mid-September, following an FBI tip that led to their arrests. by: Ashley Eddy, Emilee Kuschel, Bailey Strohl, Chris Six, Carrie Winchel. Remains discovered in an adjacent backyard were also found to be from Ms Rainwater after investigation work in September, as did the FBI find messages between the pair appearing to plan her death. DALLAS COUNTY, Mo. 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. 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. Additional reporting by The Associated Press. Both Phelps and Norton appeared via a video conference call from the Dallas County Jail. 2023 Telepictures Productions Inc. "Norton stated that Phelps bound her to the gantry crane and Phelps began evisceration and dismemberment of Cassidy's body. DNA tests returned to Dallas County Sheriff Scott Rice confirmed Rainwaters flesh was found in a freezer. Dallas County Judge Lisa Henderson was initially expected to hear the cases of Phelps and co-defendant Timothy Norton. According to a statement from the Dallas County Sheriff's Office, Norton allegedly "confessed to the murder of Cassidy Rainwater," who was reported missing on Aug. 25. She says that she moved to Dallas County to get away from violence in Kansas City. A probable cause statement says on September 16th, the FBI office in Kansas City received an. Investigators say they dismembered her body in a bathtub. The Sheriffs Office said Norton told FBI agents that Phelps asked him to come over to his home, and he held Cassidys legs down as "Phelps strangled her and placed a bag over her head" before bounding Rainwater to the gantry crane where they started the "evisceration and dismemberment of Cassidys body.". Authorities have said there is no reason to believe that there are other victims associated with Mr Phelps and Mr Norton, and that the investigation is ongoing. Phelps home was later burned to the ground after his arrest. The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time It allows the defendant to accept a guilty verdict without a criminal trial, according to Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute. Some of the woman's body parts were later found in a freezer, he said. The remarks followed a fire at the home of Mr Phelps in October, with investigators finding tripwires at the property. "Phelps stated he had not seen Cassidy since.". After entering, they say, Norton said he held Cassidys legs down while Phelps strangled her and placed a bag over her head.. 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. Deputies searched the property for seven days, according to the Dallas County Sheriffs Department. One of the two men charged in the Dallas County kidnapping and death of Cassidy Rainwater entered an Alford plea on Friday and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Norton further said that Phelps had contacted Norton to come to Phelps home, an affidavit said. 2023 Rolling Stone, LLC. Dallas County Sheriff's Office Phelps' home was destroyed by fire on Oct. 4. The next day, Timothy Norton was booked into the Dallas County Jail without bond. Meanwhile, investigators returned to the scene of the fire during daylight hours to analyze the area. She said she cant wrap her head around all of this. James Phelps, 58, and Timothy Norton, 56, have been . Due to the nature of the plea, there was no criminal trial. Cassidy Rainwaters alleged kidnappers have been unmasked as her alleged murderers, as police reveal the 33-year-olds brutal final moments. Norton said he held Rainwater down while Phelps put a plastic bag over her head and strangled her, according to Rice. Murder charges have been filed in Missouri against two men accused of killing and dismembering Cassidy Rainwater. Attorneys for James Phelps and the Dallas County Prosecutor agreed Friday to move Phelps' trial to Jasper County after he made a change of venue request earlier in the year. There are as many as 23 remains being looked into. Phelps' case was moved to Jasper County last week. Cassidy Rainwater's remains were found labeled "7-24" in a freezer. 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 . James D. Phelps, 60, was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and abandonment of a corpse in the case of 33-year-old Cassidy Rainwater. 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. The Law Did Not Treat Them Kindly. She is listed as a freshman in the 2003 yearbook from . Investigators found seven photos of Cassidy Rainwater partially nude while being held in a cage on James Phelps' property in Lebanon. Privacy Policy | Murder charges filed, gruesome details released in Cassidy Rainwater case. Sheriff Rice said more of her remains were found scattered on a nearby property belonging to her grandfather Bill Rainwater. 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. Very few details on this case have been released by the Dallas County Sheriffs Office, including whether Cassidy Rainwater has been found. We want to hear it. 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. A woman who knew Rainwater personally and knows of the suspects spoke with KY3 on the condition of anonymity. 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 later learned that she was talking about James Phelps. Phelps and Norton were arrested back in September of 2021 after authorities say they obtained photos of Rainwater in a cage on Phelps property. (KOLR) Cassidy Rainwater, the woman seen in a dark web photo being held in a cage in a partially nude state, was reported missing in August. The Sheriffs Office said in a news release that a crime lab confirmed the remains recovered from the freezer were Rainwaters. Digital evidence found at the scene revealed messages between Phelps and Norton planning Rainwater's death, the sheriff said. (KY3) - One of two men accused of kidnapping and killing Cassidy Rainwater in Dallas County entered an Alford plea for first-degree murder. He told investigators he was an over-the-road trucker and lives in his truck even when he was not actively working, police said. Phelps' co-defendant, Timothy Norton, faces the same charges. Dallas County Sheriff Scott Rice initially said it could be at least 30 days before any results are returned. News of the positive identification was accompanied by the release of sickening new details concerning the kidnapping victim's death, including how the 33-year-old woman was strangled to death, strapped to a crane, eviscerated and cut into pieces, according to authorities. 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. KOLR-TV is in contact with local authorities daily, but they are not releasing much information. He told authorities she left in the middle of the night and never came back. One of two southwest Missouri men charged in the gruesome killing of a woman who authorities say was kept in a cage entered a plea on Friday. The men also were charged with abandonment of a corpse. James Phelps, 58, and . 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. She asked us to conceal her identity for her protection. A trial date had not been set. Phelps is one of two suspects in the Cassidy Rainwater murder case. The 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time. According to court documents, investigators recovered more than 200 pieces of evidence at the home and determined that Rainwaters body had been dismembered. The tip the FBI received was titled Cassidy. Phelps and Timothy Norton, both of Dallas County, were charged in September 2021 with kidnapping the 33-year-old woman and facilitating a felony, inflicting injury and terrorizing. 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Both remain jailed in Dallas County. - The County Prosecutor files murder charges in the Cassidy Rainwater case in southwest Missouri. "Norton stated, after entering the house, he held Cassidy's legs down while Phelps strangled her and placed a bag over her head. 2 Missouri Men Charged After Allegedly Kidnapping 33-Year-Old Woman and Keeping Her in a Cage, Inside the Phone Call Between Lori Vallow Daybell and Husband as Police Searched for Kids' Remains, Man Allegedly Killed Wanted Suspect in His Mother's Murder Before He Could Be Found by Police, Husband Who Allegedly Searched 'How Long Before a Body Starts to Smell' Indicted on Accusation He Killed Wife, Family Says Black Man Was Found Decapitated in Mississippi, Believes He Was Targeted by 'Lynch Mob', Wisconsin Woman Charged in 2022 Dismemberment Case Attacks Attorney at Competency Hearing, Washington, D.C., Police Sergeant Charged with Murder in Fatal Shooting of Man Asleep in Car, Texas Mom Allegedly Stabs 4-Year-Old Son to Death in Front of Her Mother; Both Women Charged, Missing Woman Found Possibly Dismembered in Texas; Suspect Allegedly Searched 'How to Be a Serial Killer', Dismembered Remains of N.C. Man Who Vanished Over a Month Ago Found in Barrel of Concrete, Pa. Woman Accused of Killing and Dismembering Parents with Chainsaw, Burning Body Found in Fire Pit Following Welfare Check on Missouri Student with Autism, and Woman Is Charged, Brian Walshe, Husband of Missing Mass. 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. I dont understand what makes people get like that, says Williams. Dallas County authorities said James Phelps and Timothy Norton kidnapped Ms Rainwater around the time of her disappearance, allegedly forcing her into a cage. 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. Evidence found in a September search included Rainwater's remains. Shes a member of the investigative team focusing on watchdog journalism. Court documents indicate that when investigators searched Phelps' property, they found Rainwater's remains in a deep-freezer, dated with 7-24, the last day Rainwater is believed to have been alive. James Phelps . According to court documents, Cassidy Rainwater's remains have been found on a property belonging to two men accused of kidnapping her and keeping her in a cage. Norton is said to have told investigators that Phelps then bound her to the gantry crane and dismembered her. On Sept. 16, the FBI contacted Dallas County detectives with the photographs. A judge approved the request one day later, per court records. Prior to the request, a preliminary hearing in Phelps case was scheduled for Nov. 5. Porter anticipated Phelps' trial would occur in the summer of 2025, which would be four years after Rainwater's death. 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. In a Springfield Bomb Squad report, investigators said they found an incendiary device during a fire at the home connected to James Phelps. Williams says that a lack of information coming from investigating authorities is leading an entire community to speculate. All pre-trial hearings in Phelps' case will still be held in Dallas County, and even at the trial in Jasper County, Dallas County Judge Jill Porter will preside. Court documents accuse Phelps and Norton of holding Cassidy Rainwater in a cage on Moon Valley Road near Windyville, Missouri. It appears that the land has been in the Phelps family for years as multiple people have used that address, according to online court records. Police say the 33-year-olds remains were found in a freezer at the home of one of the men accused of kidnapping her in Windyville, an unincorporated Ozarks community about 160 miles from Kansas City. Investigators say Norton admitted to holding down Rainwaters legs while Phelps strangled her. (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. Mom Ana Walshe, Charged with Murder, Newlywed Found Decapitated in Her Home, Her Husband of 3 Months Allegedly Confessed to Killing Her, Ex-Boyfriend Accused of Murdering, Dismembering New York Woman and Stuffing Remains in Suitcase, La. Mr Norton will reportedly plead not guilty and appear in court on Friday, after admitting that he strangled Ms Rainwater, according to Fox4. Authorities say they have no reason to believe there are any other victims associated with Phelps and Norton at this time..