Two Joplin residents are taken into custody after a shooting leaves a Baxter Springs man dead.
Cherokee County Sheriff David Groves says Wesley Smith and Mindy Butterfield, both 20 years old, were each taken into custody Friday night after investigators found 22 year old Tyler Myers of Baxter Springs dead at his home on south Military avenue. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office is recommending charges of voluntary manslaughter against Smith, and distribution of marijuana against Butterfield Groves says Smith remains in custody at the Cherokee county jail, but Butterfield has been released after posting bond. The incident was first reported shortly after 9 PM Friday, and Groves says when officers arrived on scene, they discovered Myers’ body. He says after investigators secured the scene, they began interviewing a number of people who were at the residence. That lead to the arrests of Smith and Butterfield. While the investigation into the incident remains ongoing, Groves says he does not anticipate any further arrests.
“We believe that the suspects that were taken into custody are the ones believed to be involved in the criminal activity that resulted in Mr. Myers’ death,” Groves says.
Groves expects the Cherokee County Attorney’s office to file formal charges against Smith and Butterfield early next week. An autopsy of Myers has been ordered, and groves expects those results back soon.
