Woman killed in Fair Grove, suspect caught in Springfield, sheriff says

A woman was possibly shot to death Monday afternoon at a home in Fair Grove, and the suspect was taken into custody at a grocery store 14 miles away, according to the Greene County Sheriff’s Office.

A news release from the sheriff's office said deputies were called to a home in the 4600 block of East Farm Road 48 just before 1 p.m. where they found a deceased 26-year-old woman with a visible gunshot wound.

Authorities quickly identified a suspect in the case, but that man fled the scene before deputies arrived.

The news release says schools in Fair Grove were placed on lockdown and other law enforcement agencies were called in to help as deputies tried to track down the suspect.

About two hours after finding the body, authorities located the suspect, a 37-year-old man, at the Walmart Neighborhood Market on South Glenstone Avenue in Springfield, according to the news release. The suspect was taken into custody at the store without incident.

Police wrapped crime scene tape around shopping carts to surround a black Hyundai Elantra parked near the entrance of the store. The Elantra is believed to be the car the suspect drove away from the scene in Fair Grove.

Lt. Curtis Hunt, with the Greene County Sheriff's Office, confirmed to the News-Leader there was a connection between the car in the Springfield parking lot and the death investigation in Fair Grove.

Half a dozen Greene County Sheriff's deputies, several detectives and a large evidence collection vehicle responded to the Fair Grove property on Monday afternoon as the wind whipped across fields and a light snow fell.

A house, garage and smaller dwelling on the property were surrounded by yellow crime scene tape throughout the afternoon as investigators collected evidence and conducted interviews.

The smaller dwelling, about 50 feet from the main home, appeared to be the focus of the investigation. Detectives in white jumpsuits were seen going in and out of the structure, and camera flashes could be seen through an open doorway.

Annette Highfill lives a couple of houses down from the crime scene on Farm Road 48.

Highfill said two women lived in the main home and a younger couple lived in the smaller dwelling where authorities seemed to be focused.

Highfill said authorities have been called out to the property a few times in recent months for what she believed to be domestic disturbances between the couple.

"I think it was kind of inevitable the way it was progressing down there," Highfill said. "It was a matter of time, I think."

Highfill said she did not hear any gunshots on Monday but she did see an ambulance respond to the scene.

The Greene County Sheriff's Office did not release the names of the victim or the suspect on Monday, and as of Monday evening it did not appear as though criminal charges had been filed.

Sheriff Jim Arnott said in a news release that the possible homicide "appears to be an isolated incident with no further danger or threat to our community." Arnott thanked the highway patrol and the Springfield Police Department for their help apprehending the suspect.