From the desk of Bates County Coroner Greg Mullinax

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 19, 2018

My office was notified of the death of Shelly D. Rogers at St. Joseph Medical Center in Kansas City on October 5, 2018 at 10:41 AM. By law, this is the appropriate time to notify the Coroner as my office has no jurisdiction until a death has been pronounced. 

On the same date, a family member of Ms. Rogers contacted me with their concern that her death was the result of a violent crime. I immediately requested the assistance of the Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office (JCMEO) to conduct a physical examination, review of law enforcement reports and medical records, and autopsy. Starting with the response of law enforcement and EMS to Ms. Rogers in Amoret on October 1, 2018, all records were received and reviewed by myself and JCMEO. This included each officer’s report, witness statements, the EMS report, and the ER report; records and photographs were reviewed from St. Joseph Medical Center from initial admission throughout her inpatient stay until her death. 

Reports from each consultant who attended to Ms. Rogers were reviewed and I personally spoke with the attending physician responsible for her care in Kansas City.

At this time, the autopsy report is not finalized as some routine test results are not yet available. However, based on the preliminary findings of the autopsy, physical examination, medical records and toxicology of Ms. Rogers, it is evident that Ms. Rogers’ death is not the result of a homicide. The cause of her death was clearly identified by the pathologist, and correlates directly to the diagnosis of Ms. Rogers during her hospital stay.

As the investigation is not final, I will continue to examine any evidence provided in connection to Ms. Rogers’ death. I will issue a final report once I consider the investigation concluded.

I wish the public to be informed that at this time, the death is not considered to be homicide.

Greg D. Mullinax
Coroner of Bates County

Absentee voting in Bates County

The Bates County Clerk's office will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. staring on Monday, October 22 through Monday, November 5th for absentee voting. 

The Clerk's office will also be open on Saturday, November 3rd from 8:00 a.m. to Noon.

From the Nevada Police Department

Obituary - Lucybelle (Compton) Williams

Lucybelle Williams, 95, a proud citizen of Cherokee Nation of Tahlequah, OK, formerly of Nevada, MO passed away on Friday, October 19, 2018 in Kansas City, MO. Lucybelle was born June 30, 1923 in Locust Grove, OK to Earl Gus and Cora Mae (Downing) Compton. On January 8, 1986 she was united in marriage to I. Benjamin Williams and he preceded her in death on June 22, 2017.

Lucybelle was raised in Locust Grove and graduated from Locust Grove High School. She was a homemaker and also worked for Woolf Brothers Dept. Store in Kansas City as a seamstress for 27 years. Lucybelle and Ben came to Nevada in 1986 where she has continued to reside.

Survivors include her children, Steve Campbell and his wife Yvonne, St. Louis, MO, and Christine Campbell, Kansas City, MO; 10 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; one sister Maxine Proctor, Yukon, OK; several nieces and nephews; and daughter-in-law, Linda Campbell, Nevada. She was preceded in death by one son, John Campbell; one daughter, Mary Meister; three brothers, and five sisters.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 22, 2018 at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada with Rev. Hubert Fox officiating. Interment will follow in Newton Burial Park in Nevada. The family will receive friends from 10-11:00 a.m. on Monday prior to the service at the funeral home.

Obituary - Sarah Rose Spitler

Sarah Rose Spitler, 78, Pleasant Hill, MO, died Thursday, October 18, 2018 at John Knox Care Center Hospice House in Lee’s Summit, MO. 

Graveside inurnment will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at the Orient Cemetery in Harrisonville, MO.

(A complete obituary will be posted when information is available).

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UPDATE: Arrest made in Hume bank robbery this morning

Around 10 am this morning the Bates County Sheriff’s Office

received a call from the bank in Hume, Missouri In reference to a robbery that just occurred. A male subject came into the bank and stated this is a hold up and handed the teller a bag and told her to put all the money in the bag. The teller complied with request and the suspect then left the building. The Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Rich Hill Police Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol and the F.B.I. Information was sent to surrounding agencies like Vernon County and Linn County Sheriff’s Offices.

An alert Linn County Sheriff’ Deputy observed a subject that fit the description but had changed clothes walking in Prescott Kansas. She made contact with him and detained him until more

information could be sent to her. The subject was subsequently taken to the Linn County Sheriffs Office. Detectives from Bates County, Linn County along with an F.B.I agent interviewed the subject. A search of the subject’s vehicle revealed the coat the robbery suspect was wearing, the white cloth he covered his face with, the black bag and the cash taken from the bank.

Charges are being sent to the Bates County Prosecutor to file along with Charges to be reviewed by the United States Assistant Attorneys Office.

Sheriff Anderson would like to thank each agency for their assistance. Working with and getting information out to other agencies fast was a key to finding the suspect quick. “I want to say a huge thank you to the Linn County Deputy who used excellent judgement and paid attention to the small details that led to the arrest of this subject. Her actions has taken a serious criminal off the streets”.

Suspect information will be released once charges are filed. The suspect is being held at the Linn County Sheriff’s Office until extradition can be completed.

BREAKING: Bank robbery in Hume

The Bates County Sheriff's department, along with the Missouri Highway Patrol and federal investigators are currently at the Hume Bank following a robbery this morning.

The suspect is reported to be a white male wearing a black or blue jacket with blue jeans, direction of travel is unknown. If you see a subject matching this description please call 911 or the sheriffs department at 660-679-3232. Do not approach the subject.

No injuries are reported; more information will be posted as it becomes available.