OVER 80 CASES OF HEPATITIS A REPORTED BY BUTLER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT 

Health officials are continuing to see an increase in reported Hepatitis A cases in Butler County.  

According to the Butler County Health Department, as of June 8th, 86 cases of Hepatitis A have been reported with 57 percent of the cases requiring hospitalization.  

Officials say that the majority of cases have been in people who use drugs and/or their close personal contacts. 

Anyone who has been potentially exposed to an individual, experiencing Hepatitis A signs or symptoms is asked to call or visit the Butler County Health Department.

TWO ARRESTS MADE IN BUTLER COUNTY HOMICIDE 

Two arrests have been made in a homicide investigation in Butler County.  

Butler County Coroner Andy Moore tells KWOC News that the investigation began at Bricks Off-Road Park Saturday evening, after a 12 year old juvenile had been assaulted.   

ANDY MOORE: 

At approximately 10:30 PM on Saturday evening, the Butler County Corners office was notified of a homicide that took place at Bricks Off-Road Park.  We identified the deceased as Joe Girard 41 of Oak Ridge Missouri.  Preliminary findings indicate that he was struck multiple times and succumb to his injuries, due to blunt force trauma.  At this time I do not believe any weapons were used.  I have scheduled an autopsy for Monday morning at 9:30 with Dr. Russell Deidiker in Farmington Missouri. 

KWOC News has learned the two suspects have identified as 39 year old Rickey Holt Jr., and 40 year old Brenda Holt, both of Bunker. Both suspects are facing charges of voluntary manslaughter. Rickey Holt was released from custody after posting bond and Brenda Holt remains in the Butler County Justice Center on a $100,000 cash or surety bond.

POPLAR BLUFF MAN INJURED IN WRECK INVOLVING A DUMP TRUCK 

A Poplar Bluff man was injured in a wreck involving a dump truck Wednesday morning.  

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the wreck occurred shortly after 8:30 am Wednesday on US Highway 67, approximately three miles north of Poplar Bluff.  

The dump truck was attempting a pass when it struck a car in the side, causing the car to drive off the side of the road and overturn.  

The driver of the car suffered minor injuries and was taken to a Poplar Bluff hospital.

KENNETT MAN FACING MULTIPLE CHARGES IN CONNECTION TO INCIDENT LAST WEEK 

An area man is facing multiple charges in connection to a domestic disturbance last week in Kennett.  

Officials with the Kennett Police Department tell KWOC News that Friday evening officers were dispatched to a residence where they learned that a suspect, armed with a handgun, had allegedly forcibly entered without permission and assaulted and threatened the occupants within. 

31 year old Sedrick Harrell, of Kennett, was later arrested for burglary 1st degree, domestic assault 1st degree, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, property damage 2nd degree, and six counts of endangering the welfare of a child. 

Following the arrest, Harrell was held in the Dunklin County Justice Center.

ONE DEAD, ANOTHER INJURED FOLLOWING WRECK ON INTERSTATE 57 

A Bernie woman has died from injuries she received in a Monday morning wreck in Scott County.  

Officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tell KWOC News that the wreck occurred on Interstate 57 when a vehicle driven by 70 year old Sharon Stevens turned into the path of another vehicle.  

Stevens was pronounced dead at the scene by Scott County Coroner Scott Amick.  

The driver of the second vehicle suffered minor injuries and was taken to an area hospital.

ONE KILLED, FIVE INJURED IN BOAT COLLISSION 

A Poplar Bluff teenager has died and five people are injured following a boat collision in Butler County.  

Officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tell KWOC News that the collision occurred on Black River eight miles north of Poplar Bluff at around 7:30 pm Sunday.  

The collision occurred as one of the boats was traveling downstream, veered into the path of the other boat and struck it head on, ejecting the occupants of both boats.  

A 16 year old female occupant of the second boat was later pronounced dead at a Poplar Bluff hospital. 

Four people involved in the wreck suffered serious injuries, including the driver of the first boat. Of these four, one was flown to a Memphis hospital, two were flown to a Cape Girardeau hospital, and the fourth was transported by ambulance to a Poplar Bluff hospital.  

The driver of the second boat was moderately injured and also taken to a Poplar Bluff hospital.  

According to a Highway Patrol arrest report, the driver of the first boat, 27 year old Braden Bollinger, of Dexter, is facing charges of boating while intoxicated.

BLOOMFIELD AUTHORITIES SEARCHING FOR MISSING TEENAGER 

Authorities in Bloomfield are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing teenager.  

According to a post on the Bloomfield Department of Public Safety Facebook page, 16 year old Alexendria Lusk was last seen at 2 am Tuesday morning in her home. She was reported missing at 9:30 am.  

Alexendria Lusk is described as a Caucasian female, five foot, three inches tall, weighing 150 pounds, with hazel eyes, and brown, curly, medium length hair.  

We have a picture of Lusk available on the KWOC Facebook page.  

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the Bloomfield DPS at 573-568-3576 or Stoddard County Sheriff's Department at 573-568-4654.

PILOT UNINJURED AFTER CROP DUSTER CRASHES IN BUTLER COUNTY 

A crop duster crashed Sunday in southern Butler County.  

Officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tell KWOC News that the small plane crashed in the area of County Road 221 near County Road 220.  

The pilot was the only occupant on board and he did not suffer any injures. 

Officials say the Federal Aviation Administration has been advised of the crash. 

POPLAR BLUFF POLICE ATTEMPTING TO LOCATE SEX OFFENDER 

Authorities in Poplar Bluff are asking for the public’s help in locating a non-compliant sex offender.

According to the Poplar Bluff Police Department, 50 year old Thomas Eskridge, of Poplar Bluff, has moved from his registered address without reporting his new address to the Butler County Sheriff's Office. 

Anyone with information on Eskridge’s whereabouts is asked to contact Captain David Sutton at 573-686-8649 or your local law enforcement agency.

ARREST MADE IN BUTLER COUNTY HOMICIDE 

Updating a story we brought to you yesterday, an arrest has been made in a homicide investigation in Butler County.  

Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs tells KWOC News that the investigation began Sunday afternoon.

MARK DOBBS: 

Sunday around 3 o’clock, our officers received a call and responded to the area of County Road 612 in eastern Butler County in reference to a black male laying on the edge of the roadway who was apparently deceased and was apparently the victim of a homicide. Since then the major case squad has been activated, consisting of the Butler County Sheriff's Office, Poplar Bluff Police Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control, as well as the Butler County coroner's office. In the early morning hours, we did arrest one suspect, one person of interest, he's being held on an unrelated charge and unrelated parole absconder warrant out of Michigan. That individual’s name is Demetrion Lafayette, age 30, He shows or claims a Poplar Bluff address however he's not necessarily a long-term resident here. At this time it’s believed that the motivation was misunderstanding over sales of illegal narcotics, it is believed both the victim and the suspect were at least medium level dealers of illegal narcotics. They had a misunderstanding. The suspect is being held without bond on a Michigan charge. And we anticipate that being that a murder charge being filed on him at some point in the very near future. The victim schedule for an autopsy the preliminary appearance of it is that he most likely died of gunshot wounds however that something that the autopsy will have to review. At this time investigation continues members of the major case Squad are continuing to follow up leads and shore up the case and make a good criminal case and get a clear understanding of what it is exactly that took place out at the scene. 

KWOC News will continue following this story and bring you further updates as they become available.

HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY IN BUTLER COUNTY 

A homicide investigation is underway in Butler County.  

Butler County Coroner Andy Moore tells KWOC News that 32 year old Jermaine Johnson, of Poplar Bluff, was found dead with gun shout wounds Sunday in the area of County Roads 620 and 612 in Butler County.  

The major case squad has been activated for the investigation and Moore says that an autopsy has been scheduled for this afternoon in Farmington.

TWO VEHICLE WRECK NEAR ADVANCE LEAVES ONE DEAD, TWO INJURED 

Authorities say that one person is dead and two are injured following a wreck Wednesday morning near Advance.  

Officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tell KWOC News that the wreck occurred at around 5:30 am on Route C, two miles west of Advance. 

A vehicle driven by 29 year old Jacob Bates, of Puxico, was attempting a pass when he struck another vehicle.  

Bates was pronounced dead at the scene by Stoddard County Coroner Kenny Pope.  

Two people in the second vehicle were injured, one seriously, and taken to area hospitals.