Greene County deputies still gathering DNA in 2011 double slaying investigation

Investigators with the Greene County Sheriff’s Office recently collected DNA evidence they hope will help secure a conviction in a fatal double stabbing from more than four years ago.

According to a recently unsealed search warrant, authorities obtained two DNA swabs last month from a man who was in the area around the time Donald and Helen Willingham were stabbed to death in their home just south of Springfield on April 25, 2011.

Authorities say they are testing the DNA of everyone who was in the area that night to eliminate possible suspects and build their case against 27-year-old Jose Huckleberry, who was charged in 2013 with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the Willinghams’ deaths.

The case has yet to go to trial.

The recent warrant gave authorities access to DNA samples from a man named Arthur Deason who was a guest at one of the Willinghams’ neighbor’s homes the day of the stabbing.

Investigators collected DNA evidence from everyone who was at the neighbor’s house that day, except for Deason. Investigators say eliminating Deason as a contributor to any forensic evidence at the scene “would provide further evidence Jose Huckleberry committed these crimes,” the warrant says.

The warrant says a 911 call was made from the Willingham residence on the 2900 block of West Swan Street early in the morning of April 25, 2011. A female caller told the dispatcher there was a “young man” in her house fighting with her husband.

There was an apparent struggle, the woman screamed and then the call disconnected, according to the warrant.

A few minutes later, the Willinghams’ neighbor, Craig Hilburn, called 911 to say he had seen someone in the driveway of the Willinghams’ home, the warrant says. Hilburn tried to chase but lost sight of the man in the neighborhood.

Hilburn then returned to the Willingham residence and found one of the bodies, the warrant says.

When deputies arrived on the scene they located both bodies with multiple stab wounds, the warrant says.

Hilburn told authorities he had some guests at his home who left in the early morning hours of April 25, 2011, the warrant says. He said the man he chased from the Willinghams’ driveway was not one of his guests.

All of the guests have been eliminated as DNA contributors to the crime scene, except for Deason, whose DNA was not collected until two weeks ago, the warrant says.

The warrant says Huckleberry was interviewed by detectives three times in 2012 and he said he and a juvenile identified as S.R.S. entered the Willinghams’ house and killed them.

The warrant says Huckleberry now plans to rely on an alibi that he was not at the scene and someone else committed these crimes.

Huckleberry is being held at the Jefferson City Correctional Center. His next court appearance in this case is scheduled for Oct. 5.

Donald and Helen Willingham, both 79, were grandparents who started churches in Missouri and Florida. They went on multiple missionary trips to places like Guam, Jamaica and the Philippines.