The next court hearings are currently set for Feb. 8 for Timothy Norton and Feb. 18 for James Phelps. A judge initially set a preliminary hearing in both for Nov. 5. Cassidy Rainwater's remains were recently identified. 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. 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An Alford plea does not admit guilt but acknowledges that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict if the case had gone to trial. 2023 Telepictures Productions Inc. Those items were dated July 24. One day later, police brought back Norton to interview him again. Both remain jailed in Dallas County. Rainwater was last seen alive in mid-July. A month prior, however, Phelps reportedly told a detective he had not seen Rainwater since she went to meet a car at the end of his driveway in the middle of the night. Investigators say Norton admitted to holding down Rainwaters legs while Phelps strangled her. 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. Two men are charged with her murder after photos showed her evisceration and dismemberment. 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. Deputies report they found other DNA belonging to Cassidy on an adjacent property belonging to the late Bill Rainwater, Cassidy's grandfather. 24. 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. 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. Deputies went to Phelps home at 386 Moon Valley Road near Windyville and asked if he knew Rainwater. 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. On Sept. 16, an FBI agent in Kansas City contacted detectives in the Sheriff's Department after receiving an anonymous tip about photos that allegedly showed Rainwater being held in a cage, reported CBS affiliate KFVS in Cape Girardeau, Mo. 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. At one point, a Dallas County deputy found something that resembled a tripwire; thats when the Springfield bomb squad was sent to investigate. The flesh from the freezer also yielded a DNA match for Rainwater. The address listed for him on online court systems and court documents showed the same address as James Phelps home on Moon Valley Road. 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. James Phelps, 58, and Timothy Norton, 56, have been charged with the kidnapping of Cassidy Rainwater. Cassidy Rainwater's remains were found labeled "7-24" in a freezer. He is diagnosed with autism, is non-verbal and has medical conditions that require care. Police found some inaccuracies in his story. After several hours, deputies departed from the scene, but no new findings in the investigation were released. The woman recalled Rainwater as being friendly. The home caught fire during the evening hours of Oct. 4. 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. Williams says that a lack of information coming from investigating authorities is leading an entire community to speculate. Phelps and Norton were arrested back in September of 2021 after authorities say they obtained photos of Rainwater in a cage on Phelps property. The Dallas County Sheriffs Office confirmed with OzarksFirst around 10 p.m., the home caught fire Monday. Investigators obtained a search warrant for Phelps' cellphone and uncovered pictures of Rainwater partially nude being held in a cage on Phelps' property. Snejana Farberov For Dailymail.com
According to court records, Norton was originally interviewed on Sept. 19 and after his interview, officers determined he had provided information that was not accurate. On Sept. 16, the FBI received an anonymous tip about photos that appeared to depict a partially clothed Rainwater confined to a cage. Police have now upped the charges against both men to first-degree murder. According to a news release from the Dallas County Sheriffs Office, other photos depicted "Cassidys body bound to a gantry crane, commonly used for deer processing, and her evisceration and dismemberment.". 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. Heres How, Roy Wood Jr. The packages in the freezer containing her remains were labeled 7-24. Rainwater was last seen at some point in late July; a family member who officially reported her missing on Aug. 25 said she had last been seen about six weeks prior. It remains unclear if Mr Phelps, who is due in court next week, has a lawyer. Everything was quiet and I thought moving to the country was going to be the best fit, but now.I dont want to move back to the city but now I feel like I might have made a bad choice, says Williams. About a week later, a Dallas County detective went to Moon Valley Road and spoke to Phelps about the missing-person case. Dallas County Judge Lisa Henderson was initially expected to hear the cases of Phelps and co-defendant Timothy Norton. Murder charges filed, gruesome details released in Cassidy Rainwater case. Authorities say remains found at the southwest Missouri home were those of a missing woman, 33-year-old Cassidy Rainwater. DNA tests returned to Dallas County Sheriff Scott Rice confirmed Rainwaters flesh was found in a freezer. by: Ashley Eddy, Emilee Kuschel, Bailey Strohl, Chris Six, Carrie Winchel. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Dallas County Sheriff Scott Rice initially said it could be at least 30 days before any results are returned. Dallas County land records show that the Rainwater family still owns land that surrounds the unsecured crime scene. Norton was interviewed again on Sept. 20 at the Dallas County Sheriffs Office. Authorities have not shared many updates since confirming the death of Rainwater on Nov. 17. Cassidy was at the property looking for her missing mother. According to the Sheriffs Office, Norton was interviewed on Sept. 20, and eventually confessed to the murder of Rainwater. 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. James Phelps, 58, is charged alongside. Due to the nature of the plea, there was no criminal trial. 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. And some say to the community. Investigators determined it to be arson. Cassidy Rainwater murder suspect gets life in prison. Federal investigators said no one has seen Cassidy Rainwater since July. On Sept. 1, a detective spoke to Phelps at his home in Lebanon. Rachel Nicholson, who moved to Lebanon recently, said she saw the home go up in flames from a distance. I cant fathom what her family is experiencing and Im heartily sorry that it happened so close to my home.. 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. 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. Authorities said Norton told them that he knew that Rainwater was being held at the home of Phelps and that she had been kept in a cage, court records show. Per court records, that is when he admitted details to authorities about restraining Rainwater back in July. The Dallas County Sheriff applied for and received a search warrant for Phelps' phone later that day, WDAF reported, and reportedly found seven pictures . We could feel the heat, said Nicholson. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Dallas County Judge Jill Porter sentenced Phelps to life in prison without parole. 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When police followed up on this. KOLR-TV is in contact with local authorities daily, but they are not releasing much information. 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. In September, Phelps twice told investigators that Rainwater was staying with him while she got on her feet, but he said he hadn't seen her since she left about a month ago and that she was going to Colorado, Rice said. At the time he told investigators he had not seen. Nearly four months after Cassidy Rainwater went missing, the Dallas County prosecutor officially upgraded charges against Phelps and Norton. Her mother's body was found in 2008 in Laclede County. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. He told authorities she left in the middle of the night and never came back. 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." His attorneys said they will ask a judge to set a bond. Prior to the request, a preliminary hearing in Phelps case was scheduled for Nov. 5. A judge approved the request one day later, per court records. Phelps is one of two suspects in the Cassidy Rainwater murder case. Rainwater was last seen alive in mid-July. According to court documents obtained by Fox4, Cassidy Rainwater, 33, was reported missing on August 25, six weeks after she was last seen. Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Due to the nature of the plea, there was no criminal trial. The Springfield 3. Everything was on fire, and we sat there and watched it collapse. More than a month after their arrests, no additional charges had been filed against Phelps and Norton. 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. During the hearing, prosecutors asked for 45 days until the preliminary hearing due to the number of witnesses needed. All a sudden, the house collapsed and the flames got bigger. Cassidy Rainwater was last seen in mid-July. I called 911 because I was worried about it catching the woods on fire and spreading to the other houses.. On the night of Oct. 4, a day before Phelps and Norton were scheduled to appear in court, Phelps' home burned to the ground. Digital. The Missouri State Fire Marshals Office launched an investigation after the fire caused a total loss to the home. The other photos depicted Cassidys body bound to a gantry crane, commonly used for deer processing, and her evisceration and dismemberment.. (KY3) - The Dallas County Sheriffs Office led a months-long investigation into the disappearance and death of Cassidy Rainwater, a case that took national spotlight several weeks after she initially went missing. 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. Murder charges have been filed in Missouri against two men accused of killing and dismembering Cassidy Rainwater . Rainwater, 33, was reported missing on Aug. 26, 2021, after having last been seen in mid-July. 18:16 BST 18 Nov 2021. Terms of Use | "Phelps stated he had not seen Cassidy since.". 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. 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'. 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. 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. Phelps was arrested at the scene on Sept. 16. She said she cant wrap her head around all of this. According to court documents, investigators recovered more than 200 pieces of evidence at the home and determined that Rainwaters body had been dismembered. Sheriffs officials have said that Phelps said he did but that he hadnt spoken to her in roughly a month. Cassidy Rainwater, 33, was reported missing Aug. 25, and had last been seen six weeks earlier with Phelps. Very few details on this case have been released by the Dallas County Sheriffs Office, including whether Cassidy Rainwater has been found. "Norton stated, after entering the house, he held Cassidy's legs down while Phelps strangled her and placed a bag over her head. The defendants' attorneys could not be reached for comment. 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. Investigators say they dismembered her body in a bathtub. (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. Court documents accuse Phelps and Norton of holding Cassidy Rainwater in a cage on Moon Valley Road near Windyville, Missouri. 7. . James Phelps appeared in court on Nov. 19, just two days after his amended charges. 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. They had previously been charged with kidnapping. 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. 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 statement adds: "Detectives recognized items in Phelps back yard that coincided with the photos. Norton was arrested on September 20 after speaking to authorities. Wiliams lives in Urbana, about half an hour away from the site of Monday nights fire. After entering, they say, Norton said he held Cassidys legs down while Phelps strangled her and placed a bag over her head.. 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. All rights reserved. James Phelps and Timothy Norton were arrested in September and charged with the kidnapping of Cassidy Rainwater. According to court documents, Phelps told the detective that about a month prior, Cassidy left in the middle of the night and met a vehicle at the end of the driveway in the dark and had not been seen or heard from since. The case had already taken a very dark turn in September, when details trickled out about Rainwater being held captive and semi-naked in a cage on Phelps property. "Phelps stated that, about a month prior, Cassidy had met a vehicle at the end of the driveway and left in the middle of the night," the statement alleges. Missing NC woman found dead in woods, police begin homicide investigation Someone reported her missing on Aug. 25. Phelps entered an Alford plea, a type of guilty plea in which a defendant maintains their innocence but acknowledges prosecutors have sufficient evidence for a conviction. Rainwater has ties to the Kansas City area. Dallas County Sheriff's Office Phelps' home was destroyed by fire on Oct. 4. 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. That is when the Dallas County Sheriffs Office opened the investigation into her disappearance. The home accused kidnapper James Phelps was staying atburned to the ground late Mondaynight, and a bomb squad from Springfield was sent to investigate. 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. A report, first obtained by local news outlet Ozarks First from the Springfield Fire Department showed the bomb squad had been called in and found an incendiary device in a mortar tube with an attached trip wire. A representative for the states Division of Fire Safety, which helped investigate the cause of the fire, said the agency provided its report to authorities but cannot comment on the findings because its part of an investigation. She was reported missing by a relative on August 25th. James Phelps, 58, and Timothy Norton, 56, have been in custody since. She would stop by, and she would talk to us when we were outside working. Dallas County authorities said James Phelps and Timothy Norton kidnapped Ms Rainwater around the time of her disappearance, allegedly forcing her into a cage. In reality, police say, the whole time Phelps claimed he was graciously letting Rainwater stay with him until she got back on her feet, he was actually plotting her murder. (KY3) - One of two men accused of kidnapping and killing Cassidy Rainwater in Dallas County entered an Alford plea for first-degree murder. Chris Harris has been a senior true crime reporter for PEOPLE since late 2015. On Wednesday, the Dallas County Sheriffs Department announced the murder charges. On September 16, the FBI provided the photos of Rainwater to Dallas County detectives, who arrested Phelps. A woman who knew Rainwater personally and knows of the suspects spoke with KY3 on the condition of anonymity. The Law Did Not Treat Them Kindly. Additional reporting by The Associated Press. The detective noticed the loft on the property looked like it had been stripped, and they did not notice any belongings of Cassidys at the loft at that time. 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 . Geo resource failed to load. On Sept. 16, the FBI contacted Dallas County detectives with the photographs. The next day, Timothy Norton was booked into the Dallas County Jail without bond. He encouraged people not to listen to TikTok creators sitting in their apartment or their mommy and daddys basement eating Great Value cheese puffs and drinking box wine with grand intentions of being a social media superstar, and added that 99.999999 percent of what has been posted to social media is CRAP. He also discouraged people from traveling to the area to trespass, litter, vandalize, harass, or destroy property.. In partnership with 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. Digital evidence found at the scene revealed messages between Phelps and Norton planning Rainwater's death, the sheriff said. The crime scene was investigated for seven days in mid-September, and according to the Sheriffs Office, investigators collected the gantry device, cage, and "items from the freezer that appeared to be human flesh with a date written on them of 7-24.". I dont think Cassidy would have ever run off without keeping in contact with her family, she said. 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. An . 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. During that hearing, Judge John C. Porter ruled against a bond request filed by Phelps attorney. There are as many as 23 remains being looked into. 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. Phelps' case was moved to Jasper County last week. Phelps and Norton appeared before a Dallas County judge via a webcam over their kidnapping charges, represented by different public defenders. 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. She was reported missing in late August 2021 by a woman named Cora Terry. A home belonging to James Phelps. But I also feel like if law enforcement and others will give us information, they wouldnt have to resort to that kind offilling in, says local resident Savannah Williams. The Dallas County Sheriff's Office laid out the case on social media today, announcing details surrounding the murder. According to court documents, on Sept. 16, the Dallas County Sheriffs Office was contacted by an FBI agent in Kansas City about an anonymous tip. (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. I refuse to do it | Opinion, Clark Hunt says hes surprised Chiefs players griped about facilities. Phelps home was later burned to the ground after his arrest.
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