A woman’s ex-boyfriend has been arrested for her murder 32 years after she was found shot to death in her car in Missouri. 

Leon P. Lamb, 52, was charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action for the murder of Mischelle Lawless, who died at the age of 19 in November 1992. 

Lawless’ case was reopened in June 2023 and 18 months later, investigators gathered enough evidence to bring an indictment against Lamb. 

The ex-boyfriend was arrested in Conway, Arkansas, and is being held without bond. 

He was the last person to see Lawless and the pair had an on-and-off-again relationship, according to The Standard-Democrat.  

Another man, Josh Kezer, was charged and convicted for the crime in 1994, but was later acquitted in 2009. 

He was convicted after Mark Abbott testified he saw Kezer at a payphone near the exit ramp. 

Several jailhouse witnesses also testified he had confessed to the murder at party, where Chantelle Crider, said she saw him arguing with Lawless the week before, according to Southeast Missourian. 

He was the last person to see Lawless and the pair had an on-and-off-again relationship

After Kezer’s exoneration, Abbott’s name was pushed forward as a suspect, as people said he had confessed to the murder, with one witness saying he told him: ‘I took care of that bitch.’ 

Lamb was also a suspect early on as his DNA was found underneath her nails, but he told investigator the pair had sex and she had scratched his back, according to the outlet. 

He also told investigator that Lawless had left his house in a good mood before she was found dead off the highway exit. 

Lamb also passed a polygraph test, according to Southeast Missourian.  

Allen Moss was named special prosecutor of the case last year, and he brought investigator David James out of retirement to help him find Lawless’ killer, he told KFVS 12 at the time. 

Neither had any ties to the case when they started, but were certain they’d find who they were looking for among the thousands of pages in the teen’s case file. 

Lawless had been out with friends in Sikeston on November 7, 1992 and she never made it home. 

She was found by a couple driving of I-55. Off an exit ramp, sat her red car with the engine still running and the lights on near the guardrail. 

Lamb was a suspect early on as his DNA was found underneath her nails, but he told investigator the pair had sex and she had scratched his back

She was found by a couple driving of I-55. Off an exit ramp, sat her red car with the engine still running and the lights on near the guardrail

Deputies arrived around 1:30am and found Lawless’ body in the car. Blood was found on the guardrail (pictured) 

Allen Moss (right) was named special prosecutor of the case last year and he brought investigator David James (left) out of retirement to help him find Lawless’ killer

Deputies arrived around 1:30am and found Lawless’ body in the car. 

‘And it looked like there had been a confrontation at the car of some sort,’ James said in 2023. ‘Her window was down on her car partially. And they found evidence of blood on the guardrail.

‘There’s blood on the ground. And so it looked like and appeared that there was a struggle of some sort that either started at the car or ended at the car. 

‘But somehow or another she was over the guardrail and down the embankment. She ends up back in the car. And once inside the car, she is shot several times.’ 

Early on in the reinvestigation, James visited Lawless’ grave to talk to her, where he told the dead teen that he was ‘sorry’ for what happened to her and that he was ‘here to try and find out what happened.’ 

Illinois and Missouri meet in a semi-neutral floor meeting on Sunday with each team looking for a strong non-conference victory. 

The Tigers are enjoying a bounceback campaign this season that already features a win against Kansas. Can the team score another victory against a team with Final Four aspirations in Illinois? The Fighting Illini have thrived on the defensive end, but are still searching for consistency on offense around star freshman guard Kasparas Jakucionis. Can the team find it against Missouri? 

Here’s our betting preview. 

Spread

Moneyline

Total: 154.5 (Over -108/Under -112)

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook

Illinois

Kasparas Jakucionis: The 6’6” point guard has thrived to start his college career, averaging 16 points, six rebounds and nearly six assists per game. Jakucionis is a deft three-point shooter as well, hitting 42% of his threes for the perimeter oriented Fighting Illini offense. 

Missouri

Mark Mitchell: The Duke transfer has thrived in the new setting, averaging 13 points with five rebounds per game while also providing strong defense as an interior presence with more than a block per game to go with a steal.

Missouri’s heavy ball pressure defense will be a test for Jakucionis, who does have a near-27% turnover rate, but overall this Illinois offense rates out as a strong unit at protecting the ball, ranking top 60 in turnover rate. 

With the Tigers aggressive defense, it is vulnerable to letting up second chances, bottom 30 in the country in defensive rebounding rate, which is impactful with the Illinois’ offense elite at generating offensive rebounds, top 30 in the nation. 

Missouri’s defense is a bit of a boom-or-bust unit, and I also believe the offense is due to regress after starting the season posting a top three effective field goal percentage in the country at nearly 60% while posting a top three free throw rate. 

Illinois’ defense has a ton of length and shuts off the perimeter for opponents, allowing a bottom 40 three-point rate while ranking top five in effective field goal percentage allowed. 

This may be an up-and-down affair, but I like this matchup for Illinois to hand Missouri a well overdue loss. 

PICK: Illinois -3.5

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Between December 19, 2024, and December 21, 2024, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported eight arrests in north Missouri. The charges ranged from driving while intoxicated (DWI) to vehicle theft and traffic violations. Below is a detailed account of each individual arrested during this period.

Rodney L. Crosby, 43, Council Bluffs, Iowa
On December 19, 2024, at 1:58 p.m., Rodney L. Crosby was arrested in Atchison County. Crosby was charged with vehicle theft under an Emmet County, Iowa, warrant. He was held at the Atchison County Sheriff’s Office with no bond.

Michael L. McMillan, 51, Kansas City, Missouri
On December 19, 2024, at 9:12 p.m., Michael L. McMillan was arrested in Andrew County. He faced charges for driving while intoxicated (DWI), a misdemeanor, speeding, and failing to properly affix a display plate. McMillan was held at the Andrew County Jail on a 12-hour hold.

Denny B. Wiley, 36, Stanberry, Missouri
On December 20, 2024, at 2:33 p.m., Denny B. Wiley was arrested in Gentry County. Wiley was charged with failing to display valid plates on a motor vehicle and misdemeanor DWI. He was held at the Gentry County Sheriff’s Office on a 12-hour hold.

Donita D. Shields, 48, Lee’s Summit, Missouri
On December 20, 2024, at 6:29 p.m., Donita D. Shields was arrested in Clinton County. She was charged with failure to appear (FTA) for a moving traffic violation under a Morgan County warrant. Shields was held at the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office and was bondable.

Bryan J. Castellon Rivas, 22, Omaha, Nebraska
On December 20, 2024, at 10:54 p.m., Bryan J. Castellon Rivas was arrested in Holt County. His charges included exceeding the posted speed limit by 26 mph or more, operating a vehicle without a valid license (first offense), misdemeanor DWI (alcohol), and consuming alcohol while driving. He was held at the Holt County Sheriff’s Office on a 12-hour hold.

Curt J. Batt, 65, Sidney, Nebraska
On December 19, 2024, at 1:15 p.m., Curt J. Batt was arrested in Macon County. Batt was charged with excessive blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .04 or higher while operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). He was held at the Macon County Sheriff’s Department and later released.

George A. Garber, 62, Unionville, Missouri
On December 19, 2024, at 7:13 p.m., George A. Garber was arrested in Putnam County. He was charged with felony DWI (alcohol) as an aggravated offender. Garber was held at the Putnam County Jail and later released.

Jose I. Molina-Argueta, 40, Milan, Missouri
On December 21, 2024, at 12:03 a.m., Jose I. Molina-Argueta was arrested in Sullivan County. He faced a charge of DWI (alcohol) and was held at the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department before being released.

Post Views: 629

Related