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Missouri to Execute Man Despite Unusual Pleas From Victim’s Fam and Prosecutors

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Missouri to Execute Man Despite Unusual Pleas From Victim’s Fam and Prosecutors


Missouri is set to execute 55-year-old death row inmate Marcellus Williams on Tuesday evening — despite pleas from prosecutors and even his victim’s family.

Missouri’s governor, Mike Parson, and its supreme court said Monday that sufficient evidence exists for the state to take Williams’ life for the 1998 stabbing murder of Felicia Gayle, a social worker and former reporter at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The state’s decision to push forward with the execution is among the more controversial in recent years, with the same prosecutor’s office that convicted Williams now sounding the alarm he may actually be innocent.

Gayle’s family has even spoken out in favor of clemency, signaling that a life sentence without parole is the appropriate punishment for Williams given the circumstances.

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Williams has maintained for decades that he didn’t enter Gayle’s home on Aug. 6, 1998, and fatally stab her 43 times with a butcher’s knife before stealing her purse and her husband’s laptop, as prosecutors alleged.

Felicia “Licia” Gayle was murdered in her St. Louis home in 1998.

St. Louis Post Dispatch

Investigators recorded fingerprints, footprints, hair, and DNA on a kitchen knife at the crime scene, but the investigation went on for more than a year before police arrested Williams. It was revealed during a trial that Williams’ DNA did not match the forensic evidence recovered from the crime scene.

Yet, Williams was still convicted of murder in 2001 and sentenced to death after damning testimony was heard from his cellmate, who claimed he confessed to the killing while in lockup for a separate crime, and from Williams’ girlfriend, who said she saw the stolen purse and laptop in William’s car.

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Williams’ extensive criminal record surely didn’t help him win favor with jurors, either. At the time of his conviction, he was serving a 50-year sentence for an unrelated robbery.

Still, defense attorneys argued that Williams’ ex-cellmate and girlfriend were both gunning for the $10,000 reward put forward by Gayle’s family, which made them willing to make up lies if it’d personally benefit them. In the end, neither received the payout.

Jailhouse informants are known to be particularly problematic, with the University of Michigan finding that they’re involved in 23 percent of death penalty exoneration cases.

Williams escaped execution at the final hour twice previously, first by the state Supreme Court in 2015 and again in 2017 when then-Gov. Eric Greitens, a Republican, granted Williams a reprieve and asked prosecutors to review DNA evidence again. That DNA evidence may have exonerated Williams, but it was determined to have been spoiled by members of the prosecutor’s office who touched the knife without gloves before the trial.

Now its Parson, a former sheriff of 11 years, who is sitting in the governor’s mansion in Jefferson City. He’s been in office for 11 executions and has never granted clemency.

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Parson justified his decision in a statement on Monday, writing that “no jury nor court, including at the trial, appellate, and Supreme Court levels, have ever found merit in Mr. Williams’ innocence claims.”

The Midwest Innocence Project says it will push for Williams’ clemency up until 6 p.m. CST Tuesday, when he’s scheduled to be killed by lethal injection.



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Missouri Walk of Neurofibromatosis brings awareness to Columbia

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Missouri Walk of Neurofibromatosis brings awareness to Columbia


An awareness walk took place in Columbia Saturday that brings attention to a genetic disorder.

The eighth annual Missouri Walk of Neurofibromatosis took place on May 30 at Stephens Lake Park.

The event helps raise money and awareness for people who have the genetic disorder neurofibromatosis (NF).

There are three types of NF: neurofibromatosis type one (NF1), neurofibromatosis type two-related schwannomatosis (NF2-SWN), and schwannomatosis.

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While the three types of NF are genetically distinct, they share the common feature of causing tumors.

The severity of symptoms and the specific manifestations of the disorders can vary significantly from person to person.

NF1 is the most common of the conditions, affecting approximately one in 2,500.

NF2 affects around one in 25,000 and other schwannomatosis types affect around one in 40,000.

Together, the disorders affect at least 1 in 2,000 people or approximately four million worldwide.

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Anyone can be born with an NF disorder, and they have a 50% chance of passing it on.

For Christina Thomas, an organizer for Missouri Walk of Neurofibromatosis, the walk means “the world” to her.

“I’ve always been about advocating for NF and bringing people together,” Thomas said. “It’s awesome to see so many people coming together who have it.”

Thomas is the third generation in her family to have NF, and three of her four kids also have the condition.

“I grew up thinking my family was the only one with it. To me, it’s very important to be able to let people know that they’re not the only ones with it.”

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Thomas said she was often teased when she was younger because her father, who also has NF, had tumors all over his body.

“I was always made fun of because of his appearance. People tell me, ‘You don’t want to get close to her she’s contagious.’”

Thomas said she joined the walk because she wants to bring people together who have NF and let them know they are not alone.

Another of her goals is to get the attention from the University of Missouri.

“Our ultimate goal is to get the attention of the University of Missouri, because not for me, not for my kids, but maybe for my grandkids or the ones that are nearly diagnosed, for us to have an NF clinic here instead of having to travel to Kansas City or St. Louis for expert care.”

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She said the best way for the community to support those living with NF is through education and awareness.

“We’re always about advocating. We’re always about bringing awareness.”



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Missouri Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 winning numbers for May 29, 2026

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The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at May 29, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 29 drawing

19-24-47-59-65, Mega Ball: 07

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 29 drawing

Midday: 6-4-0

Midday Wild: 5

Evening: 8-5-3

Evening Wild: 1

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 29 drawing

Midday: 3-4-8-0

Midday Wild: 4

Evening: 6-8-4-1

Evening Wild: 0

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Cash Pop numbers from May 29 drawing

Early Bird: 10

Morning: 03

Matinee: 12

Prime Time: 14

Night Owl: 05

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Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Show Me Cash numbers from May 29 drawing

07-16-25-26-36

Check Show Me Cash 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.

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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

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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.



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Barry County man breaks Missouri state record with yellow bass catch

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Barry County man breaks Missouri state record with yellow bass catch


SHELL KNOB, Mo. (Edited News Release/KY3) -A Barry County man recently broke the Missouri state record after catching a yellow bass on Table Rock Lake.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, Danny Naugle, of Cassville, reeled in the record-breaking fish while fishing on Table Rock Lake on May 13. The fish broke the state record previously set in 1995.

The fish weighed 2 pounds, 7 ounces, and measured 16.5 inches. It was just two ounces shy of the world record, the department said.

MDC said Naugle normally casts for crappie, using an ultra-light rod and lights to draw baitfish.

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The previous record was set in 1995 by a 9-ounce fish caught from a slough off the Mississippi River, according to MDC.

The department said Naugle plans to get the yellow bass mounted. His catch marks the first state record fish recorded for 2026.

To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com. Please include the article info in the subject line of the email.

Copyright 2026 KY3. All rights reserved.



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