Missouri
Bipartisan effort in Missouri legislature seeks to end death penalty
There are 32 attorneys, investigators and specialists in the Missouri State Public Defender Office dedicated to preventing the wrongful execution of innocent people on death row.
The agency spends almost $3 million each year on salaries for these personnel, said Matthew Crowell, director of Missouri’s public defender system.
“We’re also using 16 of my best and most experienced attorneys to handle 11 cases out of 90,000,” Crowell said.
Guards, parole officers and other corrections staff also spend years of their working lives alongside Missourians who are sentenced to death — supervising them in the visiting room and locking them up for bad behavior.
And these staff “are still watching the state take the life of that person,” said Dr. Heidi Moore, executive director of Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty and a former institutional parole officer in Potosi Correctional Center.
As Missouri lawmakers this week once again consider a bill that would abolish the death penalty, religious leaders, advocates and a former lawmaker urged them to heed the financial and human costs of capital punishment in the state.
The bill, sponsored by Republican state Rep. Jim Murphy of St. Louis County, would mandate a sentence of life imprisonment without parole for people convicted of first-degree murder or other serious crimes. It would not alter the sentences of Missourians already on death row.
Lawmakers have sponsored similar bills in each of the past five years. Murphy’s bill did not get a committee hearing last year.
Since 1973, at least 202 people nationwide have been exonerated after being sentenced to death, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. In Missouri, four people have been acquitted or had their charges dropped after receiving the death sentence since 1999.
“The state, frankly, makes mistakes,” Murphy told reporters.
But it was the experience of a victim’s family that led Murphy to change his position on the death penalty, he said.
During his first run for office eight years ago, he spoke with a man who witnessed the killing of his parents in their house as a child.
The man opposed the death penalty because the mandatory appeals process for capital sentences delayed closure for him and his family, Murphy said. Missouri law requires the state Supreme Court to review all death sentences, giving the court the choice of affirming the trial court’s sentence, re-sentencing or remanding the case to the lower court.
“The next 15 years, over and over and over again, he and his family were dragged back to court, appeal after appeal after appeal,” Murphy said.
The man told Murphy the state should do away with the death penalty.
“We can’t continue to relive this,” he told Murphy.
Financial and human costs
Two religious leaders testified in support of the bill, citing the sanctity of life and urging against irreversible punishment.
Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski of the Archdiocese of St. Louis described the death penalty as “an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the human person” and quoted Pope John Paul II, who during a 1999 trip to St. Louis urged the abolition of the death penalty and called on people to be “unconditionally pro-life.”
The death penalty, Rozanski said, also “deprives the offender of the opportunity of redemption.”
Advocates and members of the legal team for Lance Shockley — a man who was convicted in 2009 of murdering a Missouri State Highway patrolman, insisted on his innocence and was executed in October — argued last year that his work as a mentor to fellow inmates in Potosi should have qualified him to continue that role while incarcerated.
Republican state Rep. Barry Hovis of Whitewater said he was concerned that there would be no possibility of meaningful consequences for people sentenced to life without parole who might kill a fellow incarcerated person or guard.
“They’re not going to be able to get to double life without parole,” Hovis said.
Clifton Davis, representing Missouri Justice Coalition, told committee members that while he was an inmate in the state’s Department of Corrections, most of the men he met who had received death sentences were housed in the honor dorm as a reward for good behavior.
“Yes, men on death row violated the rules, like all of us violate the rules, but I don’t know a single case of a man on death row killing anyone,” Davis said. “I do know individuals who were not on death row that have killed other offenders while they were serving sentences that were parolable.”
The Rev. Brian Kaylor, a Baptist minister from Jefferson City, encouraged lawmakers to “do what’s best for the state.”
“What is actually justice?” Kaylor asked. “What is actually fiscally responsible? What is actually going to work?”
Crowell, of the state public defender’s office, told lawmakers that abolishing the death penalty would allow his agency to devote more resources to other cases and services that could keep people out of the criminal justice system.
“I’d be able to reassign the capital attorneys and staff to our many non-death penalty clients throughout the state and to recidivism-reducing programs,” Crowell said. “… Missourians would get far more value for their dollar.”
But Republican state Rep. Jim Kalberloh of Lowry City said victims’ families should be able to express to prosecutors if they want to pursue the death penalty.
While that’s ultimately the prosecutor’s choice, Crowell said, prosecutors often look to families’ wishes for guidance.
“That’s the way it should be,” Kalberloh said. “If they don’t want [the death penalty], then we ought not to do that. If they do want it, I don’t know that I want to take that choice away.”
Davis said what he hears from supporters of the death penalty is always, “what about the victims?”
“Well,” he said, “there’s a lot of things we could do to reduce victims.”
Prospects
The bill has bipartisan support that spans both legislative chambers.
Democratic state Rep. Steve Butz of St. Louis told reporters he supports Murphy’s bill, partly because of his experience of his sister’s murder 15 years ago.
Butz’s dad told prosecutors he didn’t want to pursue the death penalty.
“He said, ‘My faith says all life is sacred, even this murderer’s life,’” Butz said.
Republican state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman of Arnold told reporters that vengeance is not the same as justice. She is sponsoring a bill that would keep judges from deciding on the death penalty in cases when there is a hung jury.
“If we are a pro-life state, and I believe that we are,” Coleman said, “we need to be protecting even those who deserve it the least.”
This story was first published at missouriindependent.com.
The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 22, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from June 22 drawing
17-19-21-45-48, Powerball: 13, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from June 22 drawing
Midday: 3-9-7
Midday Wild: 4
Evening: 3-9-8
Evening Wild: 9
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from June 22 drawing
Midday: 9-1-5-6
Midday Wild: 7
Evening: 7-5-9-8
Evening Wild: 6
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from June 22 drawing
Early Bird: 03
Morning: 13
Matinee: 06
Prime Time: 10
Night Owl: 10
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Show Me Cash numbers from June 22 drawing
03-11-14-15-21
Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from June 22 drawing
18-41-43-64-65, Powerball: 25
Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Missouri Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Missouri Lottery’s regional offices, by appointment only.
To claim by mail, complete a Missouri Lottery winner claim form, sign your winning ticket, and include a copy of your government-issued photo ID along with a completed IRS Form W-9. Ensure your name, address, telephone number and signature are on the back of your ticket. Claims should be mailed to:
Ticket Redemption
Missouri Lottery
P.O. Box 7777
Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777
For in-person claims, visit the Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City or one of the regional offices in Kansas City, Springfield or St. Louis. Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and check if an appointment is required.
For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.
When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
- Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
- Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
- Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
- Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
- Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
- Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Missouri
Second Missouri man charged in alleged White House UFC attack plot; affidavit mentions World Cup
Click the + Icon To See Additional Sharing Options
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 10 arrests across north Missouri between June 19, 2026, and June 21, 2026. The arrests involved allegations including driving while intoxicated, kidnapping, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to maintain a single lane, and outstanding warrants.
It is important to note that, while all the individuals listed below have been reported as arrested, they may not have been physically transported to a detention center. Depending on the circumstances, an individual may be issued a summons, which includes a court date. When the Missouri State Highway Patrol issues a summons with a court date, it is considered an arrest, even if the individual is not physically transported to a detention center.
Noah T. Nims, 35, of St. Joseph, Missouri, was arrested in Buchanan County on June 19, 2026, at 6:14 p.m. He was accused of driving while intoxicated, first offense, and failure to maintain a single lane. Nims was held at the Buchanan County Law Enforcement Center on a 24-hour hold.
Jaedyn C. Bacerra, 22, of Kansas City, Missouri, was arrested in Livingston County on June 19, 2026, at 9:47 p.m. Authorities alleged he was driving while intoxicated. Additional allegations included failure to have two lighted headlamps and failure to equip a vehicle with two approved red taillights. Bacerra was held at the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office and later released.
Justin F. Myers, 35, of St. Joseph, Missouri, was arrested in Andrew County on June 20, 2026, at 2:11 a.m. He was accused of driving while intoxicated as a prior offender and operating a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner involving an accident. Myers was released to Mosaic and was listed as released.
Edgar Y. Martinez Ramirez, 36, of Olathe, Kansas, was arrested in Harrison County on June 20, 2026, at 8:46 a.m. He was accused of child kidnapping, a Class A felony; first-degree kidnapping, a Class A felony; and first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle, a Class D felony. Martinez Ramirez was held at the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department on a 24-hour hold.
Albin B. Kos, 42, of Kansas City, Missouri, was arrested in Daviess County on June 20, 2026, at 2:23 p.m. Authorities alleged he unlawfully possessed drug paraphernalia as a prior offender, operated a vehicle without a valid driver’s license, and failed to maintain insurance. He was also wanted on misdemeanor Jackson County warrants for failure to appear on charges related to speeding and driving without a valid license. Kos was held at the Daviess-DeKalb Regional Jail and was listed as bondable.
Andres A. Reed, 43, of Omaha, Nebraska, was arrested in Holt County on June 21, 2026, at 1:40 a.m. He was accused of misdemeanor driving while intoxicated. Reed was held by the Holt County Sheriff’s Office on a 12-hour hold.
Timothy R. Nelson Ptomey, 32, of St. Joseph, Missouri, was arrested in Buchanan County on June 21, 2026, at 10:11 p.m. He was accused of driving while intoxicated, failing to display valid license plates on a motor vehicle or trailer, and driving the wrong direction on a divided highway in a manner that created an immediate threat of an accident. Nelson Ptomey was held at the Buchanan County Law Enforcement Center on a 24-hour hold.
Trace A. Wheeler, 23, of Edina, Missouri, was arrested in Lewis County on June 19, 2026, at 5:39 a.m. He was accused of driving while intoxicated and failing to drive on the right half of the roadway in an incident involving an accident. Wheeler was held at the Lewis County Jail and later released.
Shane D. Kurk, 29, of Canton, Missouri, was arrested in Lewis County on June 21, 2026, at 1:31 a.m. He was accused of driving while intoxicated. Kurk was held at the Lewis County Sheriff’s Department and later released.
Travis J. Miles, 41, of Shawnee, Kansas, was arrested in Ralls County on June 21, 2026, at 11:28 p.m. He was accused of driving while intoxicated and failing to wear a seat belt. Miles was released following his arrest.
Post Views: 1
Related
Click the + Icon To See Additional Sharing Options
-
North Dakota4 minutes agoTimothy Paul Ganyo
-
Ohio10 minutes agoGALLERY: Photos of former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel
-
Oklahoma17 minutes agoOHP remembers K-9 for protecting countless lives during career
-
Oregon20 minutes agoFireworks on sale in Oregon until July 6
-
Pennsylvania24 minutes agoPennsylvania company builds goals for US Soccer, FIFA World Cup matches
-
Rhode Island32 minutes agoEthics Commission denies Shekarchi’s motion to dismiss high court bid ethics complaint
-
South-Carolina34 minutes agoInside TCMU’s new SC 250 exhibit
-
South Dakota40 minutes ago“This Is Our Event” – Local news, weather and sports from Pierre, South Dakota
