The most heinous case of child sex abuse ever investigated by the Bates County Sheriff’s Office has come to an end. The trial for Melodie Thexton 41 and 38 year-old Kenneth Thexton was set to begin next week here in Bates County, but yesterday, the Thexton’s shackled and dressed in orange appeared before Circuit Judge Brandon Baker and agreed to plead guilty as their now 20 year old victim looked on, effectively ending an odyssey of child sexual abuse and neglect. Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson and Detective Amy Fishbaugh also attended the plea hearing. In 2019, reports were received at the Bates County Sheriff’s Office regarding the crime from the Camden County Children’s Center in Osage Beach, Missouri. A 14 year old girl had disclosed she had been abused at a mobile home in rural Drexel, Missouri. The investigation led by Detective Amy Fishbaugh, revealed that Kenneth and Melodie Thexton had been abusing Melodie Thexton’s 3 children for years. Upon completion of the investigation, Bates County Prosecutor Hugh C. Jenkins charged the pair with 25 counts of child sexual abuse and child endangerment. The Thexton’s have been in custody since the charges were filed in August of 2019. The State was represented by Bates County Prosecutor Hugh C. Jenkins and Cody Johnson, Bates County Assistant Prosecutor. Initial reports of abuse were investigated by the Kansas City Police Department and the Jackson County Children’s Division in November of 2018. The Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office has said they were holding their charges in abeyance until the Bates County Case is disposed of.
Just how long Kenneth and Melodie Thexton will be imprisoned will be decided by Circuit Judge Brandon Baker. Date for sentencing has been set for 2:00 pm, August 15, 2025 at the Bates County Courthouse.
