Cassidy Rainwater's remains found on accused kidnappers' property in Missouri, court docs reveal During a search, investigators on the scene of the Moon Valley Road property found the. A lawyer for Norton previously denied the kidnapping allegations and could not be reached on Thursday for comment on the murder charges. The next court hearings are currently set for Feb. 8 for Timothy Norton and Feb. 18 for James Phelps. The plea came several days after Phelps was granted a change of venue with parties agreeing to move his trial to Jasper County because of extensive media coverage in Dallas County. Investigators say Rainwater, a 33-year old woman with ties to Dallas, Greene and Laclede counties, disappeared on July 25. On Sept. 16, investigators received a search warrant for James Phelps' cell phone, and court records say they found seven photos of Cassidy Rainwater partially nude being held in a cage on his . Rumours about what happened to Ms Rainwater forced Scott Rice, the Dallas County sheriff, to decry what he called Fake News on Facebook in October. Dallas County Judge Jill Porter sentenced Phelps to life in prison without parole. Dallas County Sheriff's Office Detectives then identified. Meanwhile, investigators returned to the scene of the fire during daylight hours to analyze the area. In a Springfield Bomb Squad report, investigators said they found an incendiary device during a fire at the home connected to James Phelps. The Sheriffs Office said in a news release that a crime lab confirmed the remains recovered from the freezer were Rainwaters. ", According to the statement, police found human flesh inside a freezer at Phelps' home, and that it had been marked with a date: "7/24. (KY3) - A man has been arrested in the case of missing woman Cassidy Rainwater. I dont think Cassidy would have ever run off without keeping in contact with her family, she said. Norton is scheduled to appear in Dallas County for a hearing May 2. Authorities say remains found at the southwest Missouri home were those of a missing woman, 33-year-old Cassidy Rainwater. Norton was interviewed again on Sept. 20 at the Dallas County Sheriffs Office. Rainwater, 33, has been missing since late July, and court documents say investigators. At the time he told investigators he had not seen. Chris Harris has been a senior true crime reporter for PEOPLE since late 2015. - The County Prosecutor files murder charges in the Cassidy Rainwater case in southwest Missouri. James Phelps and Timothy Norton appeared in court Tuesday. And some say to the community. Cassidy was at the property looking for her missing mother. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Dallas County Judge Lisa Henderson was initially expected to hear the cases of Phelps and co-defendant Timothy Norton. Phelps and Norton have been jailed on a kidnapping charge since mid-September, when photos of Rainwater partially nude and confined to a cage were found on Phelps' phone, authorities said. He encouraged people not to listen to TikTok creators sitting in their apartment or their mommy and daddys basement eating Great Value cheese puffs and drinking box wine with grand intentions of being a social media superstar, and added that 99.999999 percent of what has been posted to social media is CRAP. He also discouraged people from traveling to the area to trespass, litter, vandalize, harass, or destroy property.. Cassidy Rainwater was last seen in mid-July. Norton stated he helped Phelps carry Cassidy's body into the house and placed her into the bathtub.". She asked us to conceal her identity for her protection. When police followed up on this tip, they found seven photos on Phelps phone that led to his arrest. Norton then admitted that after arriving at Phelps home he did physically confine CR by holding her down for a substantial period of time, for the purpose of facilitating the commission of a felony, or inflicting physical injury on, or terrorizing CR, the document said. Missing NC woman found dead in woods, police begin homicide investigation Someone reported her missing on Aug. 25. Norton was arrested Sept. 21. Several hours later, the bomb squad detonated the suspicious device. Some skeletal remains believed to be Rainwater were located on the adjacent property, authorities said. Dallas County Prosecutor Jonathan Barker said that if he still isnt ready to proceed after 30 days, he would file a motion for more time. Cassidy Rainwater, 33, was reported missing Aug. 25, and had last been seen six weeks earlier with Phelps. Whether its a short vacation or theyre jetting off to begin their career, show the future traveler you care with a meaningful graduation gift. Norton told FBI agents that Phelps had him come over while Cassidy was sleeping in the living room floor, so he had easy access to attack Cassidy, the sheriffs office said. James Phelps . By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. An amended criminal complaint shows the two men each still face a kidnapping charge as well as a felony count of abandonment of a corpse, saying they knowingly disposed of the corpse of Cassidy Rainwater at or near Phelps property without notifying authorities. Investigators say DNA testing identified her remains. DALLAS COUNTY, Mo. Norton confessed to the murder of Cassidy Rainwater. ", After the 33-year-old woman was dead, "he and Phelps took a short break before carrying her body outside," according to the statement. Authorities later learned that she was talking about James Phelps. Those photos, as well as photos of Rainwater strung up on a gantry crane being dismembered and eviscerated, were sent in an anonymous tip to the FBI, according to court documents. According to court documents, Cassidy Rainwater's remains have been found on a property belonging to two men accused of kidnapping her and keeping her in a cage. One of the two men charged in the Dallas County kidnapping and death of Cassidy Rainwater entered an Alford plea on Friday and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. According to court documents, hed told agents Phelps asked him to come over while Rainwater was sleeping. The detective noticed the loft on the property looked like it had been stripped, and they did not notice any belongings of Cassidys at the loft at that time. All a sudden, the house collapsed and the flames got bigger. Ive been incredibly unsettled since the whole Menagerie started, she said. ", They also found skeletal remains at an adjoining property, which "were confirmed by the crime lab to be Cassidy Rainwater.". Cassidy Rainwaters alleged kidnappers have been unmasked as her alleged murderers, as police reveal the 33-year-olds brutal final moments. Investigators determined it to be arson. In her 25-year career, Lauras stories on child welfare, human trafficking, crime and Kansas secrecy have been nationally recognized. . Evidence found in a September search included Rainwater's remains. James D. Phelps, 60, was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and abandonment of a corpse in the case of 33-year-old Cassidy Rainwater. Nortons attorney has said he intends to plead not guilty. Police found some inaccuracies in his story. She was reported missing in late August 2021 by a woman named Cora Terry. Cassidy Rainwater murder suspect gets life in prison. Williams says that a lack of information coming from investigating authorities is leading an entire community to speculate. Dallas County Sheriff Scott Rice said Wednesday in a Facebook post that the seven photos also showed Rainwater's body on a gantry crane, which is commonly used for deer processing, where she was disemboweled and dismembered before her body was placed in a bathtub. The home in Missouri where a man is accused of holding missing woman Cassidy Rainwater captive in a cage has burned down as he waits for trial in jail. Norton was arrested on September 20 after speaking to authorities. The home accused kidnapper James Phelps was staying atburned to the ground late Mondaynight, and a bomb squad from Springfield was sent to investigate. James Phelps, 58, and Timothy Norton, 56, have been charged with the kidnapping of Cassidy Rainwater. Cassidy Rainwater (Dallas County Sheriff's Office) Some of Rainwater's remains were found in an adjacent property and in a freezer with "7-24" written on them, authorities said. When investigators searched Phelps' property, court documents say they found Rainwater's remains in a deep freezer in packages labeled 7-24, the last day Rainwater is believed to be alive.. After several hours, deputies departed from the scene, but no new findings in the investigation were released. How do I keep bugs off my patio this spring? Phelps home was later burned to the ground after his arrest. The case had already taken a very dark turn in September, when details trickled out about Rainwater being held captive and semi-naked in a cage on Phelps property. 2023 Rolling Stone, LLC. Dallas County Sheriff Scott Rice says investigators have not located any evidence leading them to believe there are any other victims or suspects associated with Phelps and Norton at this time. Her mother's body was found in 2008 in Laclede County. If you want a pest-free patio this spring, the most important thing you can do is take away those elements that bugs find desirable. When investigators searched Phelps property, court documents say they found Rainwaters remains in a deep freezer in packages labeled 7-24, the last day Rainwater is believed to be alive. After she was dead, he said, theyd taken her outside and bound her to the gantry crane, where Phelps began eviscerating and dismembering her. The crime scene was investigated for seven days in mid-September, and according to the Sheriffs Office, investigators collected the gantry device, cage, and "items from the freezer that appeared to be human flesh with a date written on them of 7-24.". Cassidy Rainwater's remains were found labeled "7-24" in a freezer. A probable cause statement says on September 16th, the FBI office in Kansas City received an. He also told the deputy that at the end of July 2021, Rainwater had left in the middle of the night and met with someone in a vehicle at the end of the driveway and he had not seen or heard from her since. James Phelps and Timothy Norton were arrested in September and charged with the kidnapping of Cassidy Rainwater. Investigators say Norton admitted to holding down Rainwaters legs while Phelps strangled her. When police visited Phelps property, they found the same scene from the photographs provided by the FBI, according to an affidavit by Dallas County Sheriffs Department Sergeant Robby Simmons. Deputies searched the property for seven days, according to the Dallas County Sheriffs Department. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Phelps' co-defendant, Timothy Norton, faces the same charges. James Phelps, 58, and Timothy Norton, 56, were hit with the murder counts as well as being charged with abandonment of a corpse. Prior to the request, a preliminary hearing in Phelps case was scheduled for Nov. 5. Geo resource failed to load. According to court documents cited by WDAF-TV, Phelps reportedly provided inconsistent statements during his interviews with detectives. One day later, police brought back Norton to interview him again. DNA tests positively identified human remains found in a freezer at a Missouri home as missing woman Cassidy Rainwater; Rainwater, 33, was last seen on July 24 at James Phelps' home, but she was . Shes a member of the investigative team focusing on watchdog journalism. 7. . When police visited Phelps property, they found the same scene from the photographs provided by the FBI, according to an affidavit by Dallas County Sheriffs Department Sergeant Robby Simmons. A woman whose remains were found in September was kept in a cage before being murdered, eviscerated, and dismembered, according murder charges filed against two Missouri men. According to court documents, investigators recovered more than 200 pieces of evidence at the home and determined that Rainwaters body had been dismembered. "Norton stated, after entering the house, he held Cassidy's legs down while Phelps strangled her and placed a bag over her head. During that hearing, Judge John C. Porter ruled against a bond request filed by Phelps attorney. Police interviewed Timothy Norton on the disappearance of Rainwater. Federal investigators said no one has seen Cassidy Rainwater since July. Phelps, 58, was arrested on September 16 after investigators found seven photos on his phone showing Rainwater half-naked and being held in a cage at his home in Lebanon, Missouri. The Springfield Bomb Squad removed the device without any injuries to those handling the device. Phelps and Norton were arrested in September 2021 after authorities say they obtained photos of Rainwater in a cage on Phelps property, as well as photos of Rainwater being dismembered and eviscerated. Police have also divulged new information about hundreds of other pieces of evidence recovered in the case, providing disturbing new details about Rainwaters final moments that come as a gut-punch to many who feared the worst from the very beginning. About a week later, a Dallas County detective went to Moon Valley Road and spoke to Phelps about the missing-person case. Very few details on this case have been released by the Dallas County Sheriffs Office, including whether Cassidy Rainwater has been found. 16:05 BST 18 Nov 2021 Deputies report they found other DNA belonging to Cassidy on an adjacent property belonging to the late Bill Rainwater, Cassidy's grandfather. An Alford plea does not admit guilt but acknowledges that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict if the case had gone to trial. Sheriff Scott Rice addressed the misinformation and rumors about the case in another Facebook post on Oct. 7. During the investigation, detectives identified Timothy Norton as being connected to the case. The other photos depicted Cassidys body bound to a gantry crane, commonly used for deer processing, and her evisceration and dismemberment.. In the report, investigators claimed they found the explosive device in a mortar tube with a balloon cover, which featured tripwires. Some of the woman's body parts were later found in a freezer, he said. The investigation remains ongoing. Police note that their investigation into Rainwater's murder continues, and asks that anyone who believes they may information concerning this case call the Dallas County Sheriff's Office at 417-345-2441. He told authorities she left in the middle of the night and never came back. She would stop by, and she would talk to us when we were outside working. Digital evidence found at the scene revealed messages between Phelps and Norton planning Rainwater's death, the sheriff said. Admonishing true crime fans who were sitting in their apartment or their mommy and daddys basement eating Great Value cheese puffs and drinking box wine, he went on to say that the public should stop hanging on very word is this type of crap. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. News of the positive identification was accompanied by the release of sickening new details concerning the kidnapping victim's death, including how the 33-year-old woman was strangled to death, strapped to a crane, eviscerated and cut into pieces, according to authorities. Both Phelps and Norton appeared via a video conference call from the Dallas County Jail. ", The statement adds: "Detectives recognized items in Phelps back yard that coincided with the photos. More than a month after their arrests, no additional charges had been filed against Phelps and Norton. Some photos showed the womans body bound to a gantry crane, commonly used for deer processing, and her evisceration and dismemberment, the Dallas County Sheriffs Department posted on its Facebook page back then. The Rainwater case dates back to September 2021 after the Kansas City office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation received an anonymous tip with photos of Rainwaters partially nude body inside a cage. Two weeks ago, FBI investigators from Kansas City got an anonymous tip that someone was holding Rainwater in a cage on some property near Lebanon.
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