Illegal machine gun possession leads to 9 year DOC conviction

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Overland Park, Ks., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a machine gun.

Verdell D. Mays, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen Bough to nine years in federal prison without parole.

On Dec. 4, 2025, Mays pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a machine gun.

Mays admitted on June 28, 2025, he possessed a Glock, Model 22C, .40 caliber fully automatic pistol, and that the Glock pistol had a rear slide plate that was modified to produce automatic fire.

On June 28, 2025, Mays fled from Cass County, Mo. Sheriff’s Office deputies by driving approximately 130 miles per hour.

The pursuit occurred on Interstate 49, and Mays passed vehicles on the outside shoulder during his flight from law enforcement. During the pursuit, Mays nearly struck a motorcycle, then later nearly struck an SUV.

Mays was driving a stolen vehicle in the pursuit. Deputies conducted an inventory of the vehicle and found the Glock pistol that contained a machinegun conversion device, also known as an “MCD”, or a “switch.”

The firearm was loaded with 16 live rounds in the magazine and one live round in the chamber. The firearm was also reported as stolen. Mays also possessed a .40 caliber, 50-round drum magazine containing 46 rounds of live .40 caliber ammunition.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who is convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Mays’ felony convictions for distribution of marijuana and being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Jennings. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Cass County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office.

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Henry county arrest leads to multiple charges

On June 22, 2026, Timothy Bowen, age 30, of Warrensburg, was taken into custody by the Warrensburg Police Department following reports from citizens regarding his whereabouts.

Members of the Warrensburg Police Department responded to the sighting and successfully located and arrested Bowen. Detectives with the Henry County Sheriff's Office subsequently conducted an interview with Bowen regarding the ongoing investigation.

Bowen was later transferred from the Johnson County Sheriff's Office Jail to the Bates County Sheriff's Office Jail, where he is currently being held on unrelated matters.

At this time, the case will be referred to the Henry County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for review and consideration of formal charges related to the pursuit and stolen vehicle investigation.

The Henry County Sheriff's Office would like to thank the Warrensburg Police Department for their assistance and the citizens who provided information that helped lead to Bowen's apprehension.

Courtesy Henry County Sheriff's Office

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It's National Pollinator Week, but we celebrate pollinators every day!

When people think about pollinators, they usually think of honeybees. What many don't realize is that the common honeybee is actually an introduced species from Europe, arriving in North America in the 1600s. Even fewer know that most of Missouri's pollinators are native species, and they play a critical role in supporting both native and cultivated plants - including many of the crops grown throughout our state.

Visit our website to read more about Missouri's pollinators and managing land to create a diverse pollinator habitat at http://short.mdc.mo.gov/ocS

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Doody Attends National Level Guardianship Training

Brenda Doody, Bates County Public Administrator, took part in a 5-module nationally sanctioned

Guardianship online course: Fundamentals of Guardianship Today. Over the three-month

period of classes, Mrs. Doody honed and furthered her knowledge in opening a guardianship

case with an individual, two class modules of being guardian of the person, guardianship of the

estate and finances, and lastly end of life guardianship.

Brenda stated, “The Fundamentals of Guardianship is a wonderful course taught by very

knowledgeable instructors. I learned a lot and was able to network with other public and private

guardians from around the nation who added valuable perspective. It was great to be able to get

involved in breakout sessions and work on example cases which follow all our caseloads.”

Mrs. Doody was elected to the office of Bates County Public Administrator in November 2020

and took office in January 2021. While she had great training from her predecessor, she feels

that continuing her education is crucial to staying on top of an ever-changing field. Brenda is

currently working on becoming a Nationally Certified Guardian. She states, “Becoming a

Certified National Guardian is not a requirement in the state of Missouri. However, I believe if a

person wants to do a good job and serve their people to the best of their ability, the extra

education is vital.” Brenda is serving her second term as Bates County Public Administrator.

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Obituary - Violet Turman

In Loving Memory of Violet Dunnahay Turman March 18, 1938 – June 7, 2026

Our family lovingly remembers our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, Violet Dunnahay Turman, who departed this life on June 7, 2026, at the age of 88.

Violet leaves behind a lifetime of love, strength, and devotion to her family. Her caring heart touched many lives. Her love was never loud or demanding, but steady, constant, and deeply felt by those fortunate enough to know her. She was the foundation of her family and a source of comfort, wisdom, and unwavering support throughout her life.

Violet was born on March 18, 1938, in Rich Hill, Missouri. On March 17, 1954, she married the love of her life, Price Lee Turman, in Hume, Missouri. Together they built a family and shared nearly sixty years of marriage before his passing on July 3, 2013.

She is survived by her five children: Richard Lee Turman, Bonnie Mae Westgate, Steven James Turman, Kenneth Wayne Turman, and Timothy Ray Turman. She also leaves behind numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, all of whom loved her dearly and were blessed by her presence in their lives.

Violet was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Price Lee Turman (July 3, 2013); her parents, Richard Sylvester Dunnahay (October 25, 1962), Nellie May Hammer Dunnahay Anderson (April 28, 1990), and Chris Anderson (1987). She was also preceded in death by her siblings: Sally Dunnahay Philpot, Dixie Dunnahay Wells, Mary Ingram, Richard Dunnahay Jr., and Jim Dunnahay.

In the days, months, and years ahead, her family will continue to hold her close in their hearts. We know one thing with certainty: she mattered. She was deeply loved, and her memory will remain with us forever. Though we grieve her passing, we find comfort in knowing that her legacy lives on through the family she cherished and the lives she touched.

Forever loved. Forever remembered.

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Storms likely tomorrow evening, warmer next week

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Henry County drug take-back nets over 350 lbs

The Henry County Sheriff's Office is proud to announce that over the past year, our secure medication drop box collected and safely disposed of 𝟑𝟓𝟒 𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐧𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐮𝐧𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.

That's 354 pounds of medications removed from homes, reducing the risk of misuse, accidental poisoning, and improper disposal.

This ongoing effort is made possible through a strong partnership between the Henry County Sheriff's Office and the Community Organization for Drug Elimination (CODE), originally supported through a grant from the Truman Lake Community Foundation.

Remember, our secure medication drop box is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in the bonding hallway of the Henry County Sheriff's Office.

Thank you to everyone who continues to utilize this service and help make our communities safer. Small actions can make a big difference.

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Training available for youth mental challenges

Support the mental well-being of youth in your community.

Attend the Youth Mental Health First Aid virtual training on June 30. This course is designed to help adults recognize and respond to signs of mental health challenges in young people.

You'll learn how to:

• Assess for risk of suicide or harm

• Listen without judgment

• Give reassurance and information

• Encourage professional help

• Encourage self-help and other support strategies

This training is ideal for parents, educators, coaches, youth program staff and anyone who works with or cares about young people.

Register and learn more: https://brnw.ch/21x3ud8

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