Wednesday September 9, 2020
POPLAR BLUFF POLICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATING POSSIBLE HOMICIDE
Local authorities are currently investigating a potential homicide that took place on Tuesday.
Officials with the department report that authorities responded to a call of an incident that happened in the 1500 block of Vincent Street, involving an unnamed victim. The suspect in the homicide is a family member, and is currently in custody.
The investigation into the homicide is currently ongoing.
LOCAL WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGE
A sentencing has been set for a Poplar Bluff woman after she pleaded guilty to a child pornography charge.
Officials with the Poplar Bluff Police Department tell KWOC News that Amber Longhibler pleaded guilty to a felony charge of sexual exploitation of a minor, as well as engaging in multiple instances of sexual exploitation of a child, with the intent of producing video depiction of these instances.
Authorities went on to interview her co-defendant, Brandon Hopper, in which he admitted that they had been exchanging pornographic material over their phones.
Investigators found multiple instances of sexually explicit imagery on the phones used, which showed a minor under 18 years old, who is related to Longhibler.
Longhibler’s sentencing is set for December 8th, and faces a minimum of 15 years for these charges. Hopper has been indicted on the felony charge of sexual exploitation of a child, and distribution of child pornography. He has a trail set for October 20th.
ADDITIONAL CASES OF COVID-19 REPORTED IN STODDARD AND NEW MADRID COUNTIES; MISSOURI TOTAL NOW OVER 95,000
More cases of the coronavirus were reported in Stoddard and New Madrid Counties, while Missouri’s total has risen past 95,000.
According to the Stoddard County Health Department, four new cases were reported on Tuesday, raising the County’s total to 357 cases. Of them, 51 are active, and 296 have recovered. New Madrid County also saw four confirmed patients, bringing the total cases in the County to 448. Of these, 34 are currently active, and 414 have recovered.
The new patients have been placed under self-isolation, and the departments will be working with the CDC to contact anyone who may have been exposed to the virus while the patients were active and infectious.
In Missouri, as of Tuesday, there are now 95,113 total cases in the state, while 1,661 deaths have been directly linked to the disease.
If you are experiencing any symptoms of the virus, including shortness of breath, fever, or persistent coughing, you are advised to contact your primary healthcare provider before visiting any hospital or emergency room.
TRAFFIC AND BOATING STATISTICS FROM LABOR DAY WEEKEND RELEASED
The Missouri State Highway Patrol has released the traffic and boating statistics from the Labor Day weekend.
Over the counting period, Missouri saw 274 traffic crashes, 124 injuries, and 13 fatalities statewide. There were also 15 boating crashes and 6 injuries reported. A total of 101 drug arrests were made state-wide.
The counting period ran from 6 pm on Friday, through 11:59 pm Monday.
SERIOUS INJURIES REPORTED FOLLOWING VEHICLE COLLISION IN STODDARD COUNTY
Serious injuries were reported in Stoddard County after two vehicles collided on Tuesday.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the incident happened when a vehicle crossed the centerline of Route C, west of Advance, where it struck another oncoming vehicle head on.
After the crash, the driver of the struck vehicle was transported to a Cape Girardeau hospital for treatment.
MAN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY IN BUTLER COUNTY ON MULTIPLE CHARGES
A man was arrested in Butler County on Monday on multiple charges.
According to the Butler County Sheriff’s Department, 27 year old Randolph Frazier, of Columbia, South Carolina, was taken into custody on felony possession of a controlled substance – molly, resisting arrest by fleeing, possession of marijuana, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, and tampering with a motor vehicle.
Following his arrest, he was transported to the Stoddard County Jail.