NEWS

Mountain Grove man pleads not guilty to murder, assault

Ryan Slight
News-Leader

A Mountain Grove suspect fatally shot a man and seriously injured a teenager Tuesday because he was tired of waiting for the man's wife to leave her husband, according to a Laclede County Sheriff's Office probable cause statement.

Matthew Mitchell Rumbaugh, 65, pleaded not guilty today to first-degree murder, first-degree assault and two counts of armed criminal action.

He is scheduled to appear again before Judge Larry Winfrey on July 21. Bond has been denied.

According to the statement, authorities found Chad Gerber with an apparent gunshot wound to the head when they responded to a residence on Atlanta Road in Grovespring before 3 a.m. Tuesday. They also found a 15-year-old male with an apparent gunshot wound to the head, and he was transported to Mercy Hospital in Springfield.

Gerber's wife, Jennifer, allegedly said Rumbaugh was the person who broke into her residence and shot her husband and stepson.

Rumbaugh's son, Jeremy, allegedly said his father arrived at his residence about 5:30 a.m. and admitted he "caused mayhem" at the Gerber residence that morning.

"Jeremy told me that his father told him that Chad Gerber was not going to be bothering anyone anymore, and that he didn't hurt Jennifer Gerber or Jennifer's daughters," the statement said.

Rumbaugh allegedly told an investigator that he entered the Gerber residence through an unlocked door and was immediately confronted by Chad Gerber at the master bedroom doorway. The suspect allegedly said he believes he fired three shots with a with a Colt .38-caliber revolver.

According to the statement, Rumbaugh said he made plans to shoot Chad Gerber and "waited for a rainy stormy night" to carry out his mission. "Matthew stated that he was tired of waiting for Jennifer Gerber to leave her husband," the statement said.