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Second Missouri man sentenced to life for death of woman who was caged, dismembered

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Second Missouri man sentenced to life for death of woman who was caged, dismembered


A Dallas County, Missouri, judge sentenced a second man to life in prison after pleading guilty to the first-degree murder of Cassidy Rainwater, whose remains were found in a home after she was photographed while partially clothed in a cage.

Timothy Norton was sentenced Tuesday, and as part of his plea deal, charges of abandonment of a corpse and kidnapping were dropped.

A second man, James Phelps, entered an Alford plea in April, acknowledging there was enough evidence to convict him of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and abandonment of a corpse, without admitting guilt.

Both men were accused of killing Rainwater, 33, in September 2021 after DNA analysis of the remains found at Phelps’ home identified her as the victim.

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The FBI provided investigators photos on Sept. 16, which showed Rainwater’s body bound to a gantry crane, which is primarily used for processing deer.

The photos also showed her “evisceration and dismemberment,” the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department said in a social media post at the time.

Rainwater’s remains were found in a freezer with “7-24” written on them, as well as on an adjacent property.

Norton was sentenced Tuesday, June 28, 2023, to life in prison after pleading guilty to the murder of a woman who was kept in a cage and dismembered in southwest Missouri in 2021
AP

Digital evidence recovered during the investigation showed Phelps and Norton planned Rainwater’s death, the Sheriff’s Office said.

A woman who first reported Rainwater missing on Aug. 25, 2021, told law enforcement officials Rainwater was last seen with Phelps in July 2021.

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When questioned, Phelps told investigators Rainwater stayed with him until she could get on her feet, adding she was going to Chicago.

A month before she disappeared, Phelps said, Rainwater met a person in a vehicle at the end of his driveway in the middle of the night.


James Phelps mugshot
Phelps has been sentenced to life in prison without parole, on Friday, April 28, 2023, for his role in the death of Cassidy Rainwater
AP

Norton told FBI agents Rainwater was sleeping when he visited Phelps. The sheriff said Norton held her legs down while Phelps strangled her and placed a plastic bag over her head.

The two men then took Rainwater’s dead body outside, hung her from the gantry crane and dismembered her body, Norton allegedly told investigators.

After Tuesday’s sentencing, Norton told local station KYTV he deserved to die. He also reportedly said he and Phelps believed Rainwater stole items from them, and they wanted their items back. Then, things went “sideways” at Phelps’ home, he added.

Phelps’s home was destroyed by a fire Oct. 4, which was ruled an arson.

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Fire investigators reported that two explosive devices made with mortar tubes and balloon covers with trip wires attached, were found near the home.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.



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Missouri

Public safety, tax cuts, abortion highlight 2025 priorities for Missouri lawmakers

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Public safety, tax cuts, abortion highlight 2025 priorities for Missouri lawmakers


The 103rd Missouri General Assembly gathered at the Capitol in Jefferson City on Wednesday to kick off the 2025 legislative session. Both Democrat and Republican lawmakers highlighted similar needs in the House of Representatives: a focus on taxation in a year with decreasing revenues, enhancing statewide public safety and the issue of abortion, but party leaders have different visions for how to tackle each issue.



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Justin Bensley selected as December 2024 Missouri Department of Natural Resources Team Member of the Month

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JEFFERSON CITY, MO, JAN. 8, 2025 – Justin Bensley, an archeologist with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Missouri State Parks, has been selected as the department’s Team Member of the Month for December 2024. He was selected for his service to the department and his efforts while reviewing cultural resource impacts related to projects funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

In January 2024, Bensley’s section learned of approximately 20 American Rescue Plan Act projects that needed to be reviewed for cultural resource impacts. Most of the projects were for water and wastewater improvements, so each one also need an architectural survey. All of the projects had to be reviewed and any issues resolved so they could go out for bid by the end of the fiscal year, which was June 30, 2024.

“Justin turned out to be a miracle worker,” said Kim Dillon, a natural resources manager who nominated Bensley for the award. “His work resulted in most of the projects being reviewed, modified and approved just before the end of the fiscal year.”

Due to a vacancy, Bensley was the only staff archeologist at the time, so he was tasked with evaluating each of these projects on his own or with archeological contractors on the larger jobs. In addition, he had to consult with the Osage Nation Tribal Historic Preservation Office on the projects, which was a new process. Completing the reviews required Bensley to coordinate between each facility, archeological contractors, planners and the Missouri Office of Administration while also holding many meetings, making countless phone calls and preparing numerous documents.

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“I honestly don’t know how he did it, but we are so thankful that he did,” said Dillon.

Bensley joined the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in March 2021 and resides in Columbia.



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Freeman puts up 18 in UIC’s victory against Missouri State

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Freeman puts up 18 in UIC’s victory against Missouri State



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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Tyem Freeman had 18 points in UIC’s 80-63 win over Missouri State on Tuesday night.

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Freeman also had five rebounds for the Flames (11-5, 3-2 Missouri Valley Conference). Filip Skobalj shot 6 for 6, including 5 for 5 from beyond the arc to add 17 points. Ahmad Henderson II had 12 points and shot 5 for 8, including 2 for 4 from beyond the arc.

The Bears (7-9, 0-5) were led in scoring by Zaxton King, who finished with 17 points. Missouri State also got 10 points from Michael Osei-Bonsu.

Freeman led UIC in scoring with eight points in the first half to help put the Flames up 36-27 at the break. Skobalj scored a team-high 14 points after the break.

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