Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Time to sock-it-to-me again!
It’s that time of year again! The BCMH Auxiliary’s Operation Sock-It-To-Me kicks off TODAY and runs through October 31.
Every pair will be shared with Bates County schools before the holidays and distributed to students in need. Thank you for helping us make a difference!
Obituary - Patricia Ann Boyles
Patricia Ann Boyles, age 71 of Rich Hill, Missouri died Sunday, August 31, 2025 at her home. She was born February 4, 1954 to Patrick Loyd and Mary Lee Stark Oates in Kansas City, Missouri.
Patricia is survived by her husband, Joe Boyles of Rich Hill, Missouri; three sons, Jeff Boyles and wife April of Springfield, Missouri, Justin Boyles and wife Esmarie of Cobden, Illinois and Jarrod Boyles and wife Rachel of Blairstown, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Riley, Patrick (Morgan), Alexis, Payton, Eslie, Avery and Adley; mother, Mary Oates of Adrian, Missouri; three brothers, Scott Oates and wife Janet, Jerry Oates and Phil Oates and wife Sherri all of Adrian, Missouri; numerous nephews and nieces; and her beloved dog, Panda. Patricia was preceded in death by her father, Pat Oates; Grandmother Oates; and her beloved dog, Ammo.
History of Bates County: The murder of Janet Gail Simpson
Visiting the Simpson family home near Amsterdam during the Summer of 1985 would lead you to believe all was well. Frank Lee Simpson, an accomplished stonemason, was spending most every available moment building a new home. Wife and mother Gail Simpson, was always quick with a smile and an offer for a home made snack. Daughter Stacy was often seen taking cold drinks to local farmers working in fields on the hottest days.
Certainly, in the days leading to September 3, 1985 no one could dream what would follow that date, based on the outward appearance of what seemed to be a happy, adjusted family.
Early that morning, the Bates County Sheriff's department received a call that Gail Simpson, 33, was laying on the kitchen floor with multiple gunshot wounds to the head. While Frank Lee had already left for work, daughter Stacy told authorities of a man, dressed like a clown, who came into the home and shot her mother in cold blood.
According to reports taken, Stacy, then 14, panicked and got into the family pickup truck to go get help. Her route did not lead directly towards Butler (Sheriff's department), but allegedly she first drove toward Amsterdam, turned around, then headed toward Butler where the vehicle ran off the road and became disabled.
In the days to follow, Bates County Sheriff Leonard "Buck" Hough might have hoped for an 'open and shut' case; but Gail's tragic death would be followed with a bizarre set of twists and turns the led to national news coverage and even a feature on the Oprah Show years later.
The murder weapon, a .22 rifle, was never found and lot of questions loomed. For example, Stacy insisted that her father was at home at the time of the shooting. Witnesses and other information indicated that he was at work. It also came out that she must have changed clothes shortly after finding her mother on the floor, if so why, and what happened to the bloody clothes she had on just an hour earlier?
Missing information and sketchy evidence led to literal cat fights and accusations. Stacy's maternal grandmother Twila Frinfrock was certain Stacy pulled the trigger. Paternal grandmother LeVera Simpson claimed that neither Stacy or her son Frank was guilty.
The facts, as they were presented, were enough to accuse Stacy of pulling the trigger. She was sentenced to 11 years on First Degree Murder, while she only served 44 months on a manslaughter charge through an Alford Plea. Six years later, her lawyer stated in court that her Alford Plea was not voluntarily made and believed a new plea of not guilty should be entered. She was acquitted, later got married and relocated to Illinois.
In a time almost parallel to Stacy's conviction, Frank Lee Simpson also went to jail. Not because he was accused of killing his wife, but because he allegedly conspired to have Bates County sheriff' Buck Hough killed in a murder-for-hire plot.
For that, Frank Lee Simpson was sentenced to an 11 year prison term.
Fast forward to 1993. Nearly ten years after Gail Simpson was laid to rest, the case continued to get national attention due to inconsistencies and unanswered questions. So much, in fact, Oprah Winfrey decided to invite Stacy, Frank Lee (via satellite), grandmothers Frinfrock and Simpson, along with a few others to be on her popular daytime talk show in March of 1993.
Unfortunately, the televised appearance really didn't clear up anything.
In a letter shown by Oprah, Stacy had written "Yes, I did kill my mother", a key piece of evidence that had previously sent her to jail. Stacy quickly pointed out that the word 'not' was inadvertently left out by accident.
During the show, grandmother Frinfrock told the audience that "she knows her granddaughter killed Gail" and cited terrible arguments the two had during the months before the murder. Likewise, two of Frank Simpson's sisters (by satellite) professed that they were certain Stacy was guilty as well.
Then Prosecutor Hugh Jenkins made a cameo appearance where he cited two confessions by Stacy Simpson.
Midway through the program, a 'mystery witness' appeared, heavily disguised. Strangely, Frank, his mother and sister immediately identified the man as Robert Bolts. That person, known as 'Tony' on the show, is yet to be identified.
'Tony' did reveal to the audience that Frank Simpson gave him 20 $100 bills to pay a hit man to murder sheriff Buck Hough. It was enough evidence to put Frank Simpson behind bars.
During the taping, Frank Lee rebutted by saying that he thought the sheriff killed Gail. He was also quoted as saying he thought she was having an affair with the sheriff and the two were involved in a drug deal. In retaliation, he hired a hit man to kill the man who killed his wife.
Stacy later said she wanted to be on multiple television shows because she wasn't going to stop telling her story "until he's (Frank) charged with the murder".
Interestingly, just a few months before taping the Oprah show, an attorney for Stacy Simpson said that Frank Lee Simpson failed a polygraph test when asked if he, not his daughter, had murdered Gail Simpson. This information was never used, as polygraph tests are not generally admissible in court.
The circumstances regarding Ms. Simpson and the Alford plea is quite complicated; very simply "a guilty plea in which a defendant maintains their innocence but admits that the prosecution's evidence would likely result in a guilty verdict if brought to trial."
Frank Lee Simpson died as the result of a gunshot wound April 25, 1999 following a verbal dispute. He rests alongside Gail, who was buried in her wedding dress, in Scott Cemetery near Amsterdam.
Today, the whereabouts of Stacy Simpson Moran is unknown.
EDITOR'S AFTERTHOUGHTS: This story has always been very near to me as I visited Gail, Frank Lee and Stacy many times- the last being just a few months before the murder. Since then I have devoted lots of time researching the circumstances in hopes of finding conclusive proof of what exactly took place in the early morning hours of September 3, 1985 at an otherwise quiet home near Amsterdam.
During my research I have found many irregularities with reports and evidence (the lack thereof) among other things however, I just recently became privy to documentation that possibly has 'never seen the light of day' and with that, my research will continue.
Add to that, there is a slight possibility I may be able to speak with Stacy Simpson as she has been making an effort to fully exonerate herself- claiming that the stories told are not the truth.
Rest assured, if the truth can be found, I will move forward with my research and publish it; as Paul Harvey would then say, "Now, the rest of the story." --Doug Mager
Bates County real estate transfers and marriage licenses
Skivers, James D. to Stevens, David E. Str 30-42-29 //Sw+
Hilbus, Dana to Tippie Properties, LLC Bl 8 Christian And Condee's Addn+
Back 2 Good LLC to Jenkins, Diana J. Lt 1 Bl 70 Rich Hill, Original Town Of+
Smith's Properties, LLC to Stump, Charles Lt 9 Bl 1 Scott's Addn+
Parker, A. Dorene to Parker, Dorene Trust 7-9-2025 Str 19-42-32+
Perkins, Sheldon Dean to Perkins, Sheldon Dean Lt 84 Gilham's Addn+
Mcelwain, Marcia Lea to Mcelwain, Marcia L. Trust 09-20-2005 Str 14-40-31+
Bailey, Steven J to Fritts, Andrew Str 8-39-31
Tenholder, Kenneth Lee to Peery, Alex Str 17-41-30 //Sw
Gilbert, James Daniel to Sheppard, Terra Str 5-39-31 //Se
Mcculley, Janice to Peterson, Clayton Str 34-41-32 //Ne
Hacker, Larry J to Thomas, Arthur Lt 1 Bl 52 Rich Hill, Original Town Of+
Thomas, Arthur to Hacker, Larry J. Lt 11 Bl 5 Glasgo's Addn+
Jackson, Mary E to Engeman, Ryan J Lt 2 Bl 8 William's First, Ext. Of Addn
Bartimus, Gayl E to Bartimus, Gayl Ellen Trust 12-29-2009 Lt 506 Country South Ext. #5
Bell, Billy J to Palmetto Creek Lt 265 Adrian, Original Town Of+
Skocy, Gregory M to L Hardin Properties, LLC Bl 176 Town Company's Second Addn
Lowe, James E (Trustee) to Lowe Family Rental Properties Str 7-42-33 //Sw+
Schoor, Walter E Jr to Schoor, Walter E III Str 10-41-30 //Se
Schoor, Walter Jr to Lacer, Brad Str 10-41-30 //Se
Charbonneau, Robert (Trustee) to Bartimus, Gayl E (1/2 Interest) Str 27-40-31 //Nw
Charbonneau, Robert (Trustee) to Bartimus, Gayl E Lt 506 Country South Ext. #5
Evans, Gayle (Trustee) to Bartimus, Gayl E Lt 506 Country South Ext. #5
Nitsche Family Trust 6-10-2009 to Capehart, Dorthy E Str 15-40-31 //Se
Marriage license
Venter, Johannes Daniel and Kennedy, Kyleigh Marie
Lane, John Gordon Jr and Criswell, Krystal Leanne
Cunningham, Timothy Denton and Lemler, Taegen Elaine
The Museum Minute: Murder shocks community
Herrman’s Historical Happenings week of September 3
1896 Many Bates countians stay up late to witness a lunar eclipse.
1913 The Adrian Street Fair begins a three day stand.
1915 There are now 93 homes and businesses with electricity in Hume.
1929 Mrs. Julia Smith is arrested by the Bates Co Sheriff for making illegal whiskey and home brew at her home near Foster.
1932 The Virginia community gives a farewell party to Dr. Lusk, who is moving to Butler.
1946 The city of Butler officially approves the plat of Gilbert Heights subdivision.
1950 The 3 day Butler Fair begins at the Bit & Bridle grounds on West street.
1954 The Damon Shannon family, of Merwin, appear on channel 5 television as "Farm Family of the Week".
1985 Gail Simpson is murdered at her home East of Amsterdam. Her 15 year old daughter is tried as an adult, serves time, then is retried and absolved by taking the Alford Plea.
1988 The community of Worland celebrates their Centennial.
Continued story about Papinville school
After Harmony Mission closed in 1836 Papinville School was the first school started in Bates County.
Every thing was going good until the Civil War. After the war in 1868 a school was finally built. .
In 1913 there were 38 students enrolled in the Papinville School. In the History of Bates County Missouri book, written in 1918 it gave some interesting facts that were passed by the state legislature and the Papinville school had to follow them. In 1901 the school library law was enacted. It required local school boards to provide school libraries. In 1913 a free text book law was passed. Each child was supplied textbooks without charge. During this year the student enrollment begin to get smaller. In 1949 the two story school was torn down.
The little one room school was used until 1952 with 10 students. Papinville School was closed and the students went to Prairie City School. School was held at Prairie City until 1957 then all students were bussed to Rich Hill. From 1952 to the mid 1970’s the little one room school was used for elections and township board meetings. After the big flood in 1986 a town meeting was held to discuss flood damage to area residents. This was the last time the little school was full of people.
In 1991 the association got together to decide if they wanted to get together and clean up the school and put it on for tours during the Bates County Sesquicentennial. At this time an interest was sparked to see if the association could take over ownership of the school. In April 1992 voters of Prairie Township voted yes to putting the school and school property into hands of the Papinville Historical and Cemetery Association. On July 28 of 1992 the deed was signed by the Prairie Township board members.
The Papinville school was used in the past to educate the students who lived in the area. The school now is used to educate the future as to what the past was like and to recall history of the past. Our hopes are that every person who comes to visit the Papinville School ”little room” will leave with a piece of history in their minds that they will never forget.
Next week will be the story of Mission Branch School. There is a lot of history about these four school in the school history book. Teachers and students pictures and names, memory stories and much more. You may find a picture of your mom, dad, grandpa or grandma. In the Papinville History book you will get the history from Harmony Mission, Civil War, building back Papinville, memory stories and much more. We are a little town with a lot of history. Bring your children out to learn some history about the area where they live that they may never hear in school. Put Sept 27 on your calendar for a afternoon of fun and good home cooked food. Until next week. Submitted By Phyllis Stewart, Activity Director
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
