He is diagnosed with autism, is non-verbal and has medical conditions that require care. "Phelps stated that, about a month prior, Cassidy had met a vehicle at the end of the driveway and left in the middle of the night," the statement alleges. The new charges included first-degree murder and abandonment of a corpse after DNA tests returned to the Dallas County Sheriffs Office confirmed the death of Rainwater. Cassidy Rainwater The last person to see her was Phelps, who had been interviewed by officers right after the missing person's report was filed. (KY3) - A man has been arrested in the case of missing woman Cassidy Rainwater. 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. After she was dead, he said, theyd taken her outside and bound her to the gantry crane, where Phelps began eviscerating and dismembering her. After several hours, deputies departed from the scene, but no new findings in the investigation were released. During these upcoming court proceedings, a range of documents and evidence could be presented to the judges, defense and prosecution before the cases head to trial. Phelps' co-defendant, Timothy Norton, faces the same charges. According to court records, attorneys for Norton filed a motion to address his bond and possibly seek a release from jail, though the motion was not approved. On Sept. 16, the FBI contacted Dallas County detectives with the photographs. Dallas County Judge Jill Porter sentenced Phelps to life in prison without parole. Rainwater, 33, was reported missing on Aug. 26, 2021, after having last been seen in mid-July. According to court documents, on Sept. 16, the Dallas County Sheriffs Office was contacted by an FBI agent in Kansas City about an anonymous tip. 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. Because of both the complexity of death penalty cases and full case loads for a small staff, they tend to be more drawn out. Authorities arrested Phelps and then found the slew of evidence on his property that was revealed by the sheriffs office on Wednesday. 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. Chris Harris has been a senior true crime reporter for PEOPLE since late 2015. Investigators ruled the fire as undetermined and criminal. James Phelps, one of two kidnapping suspects charged in the disappearance of Cassidy Rainwater, had previously rented the home. Per court documents, investigators say Norton admitted that Phelps asked him to help kill Rainwater while she was staying at Phelps home. 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. Phelps is due in court this Friday, and Norton will appear on Nov. 23. Court documents reveal that beyond showing Rainwater in a cage, additional photos the FBI had shared with county detectives in September showed Rainwaters body bound to a gantry crane device (commonly used for processing wild game), and depicted her evisceration and dismemberment. Authorities had also found what were confirmed by lab testing to be Rainwaters remains packaged in a freezer and dated 7-24, court documents said, and had discovered skeletal remains on the property that they believe to be Rainwaters, as well. Phelps is one of two suspects in the Cassidy Rainwater murder case. On Sept. 16, investigators received a search warrant for James Phelps cellphone, and court records say they found seven photos of Cassidy Rainwater partially nude being held in a cage on his property on Moon Valley Road in Lebanon in Dallas County. Man Accused of Killing, Dismembering a Mother of 2 Who'd Recently Moved in with Him. The Law Did Not Treat Them Kindly. The home caught fire during the evening hours of Oct. 4. It was unclear Thursday if either man had gone before a judge to plead to the new murder charge. The tipster advised there was a photo showing a missing person, Cassidy Rainwater, being held in a cage in a partially nude state. Dallas County Sheriff's Office Phelps' home was destroyed by fire on Oct. 4. On Sept. 16, investigators received a search warrant for James Phelps' cellphone, and court records say they found seven photos of Cassidy Rainwater partially nude being held in a cage on his property on Moon Valley Road in Lebanon in Dallas County. During the investigation, detectives identified Timothy Norton as being connected to the case. The mystery surrounding the fate of a Missouri woman who vanished over the summer has finally been solvedbut the details about what really happened to Cassidy Rainwater are more ghastly than anyone could have imagined. 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. She would stop by, and she would talk to us when we were outside working. 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. A lawyer for Norton previously denied the kidnapping allegations and could not be reached on Thursday for comment on the murder charges. 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. 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. Rainwater, 33, was reported missing on Aug. 26, 2021, after having last been seen in mid-July. James Phelps, 58, and Timothy Norton, 56, have been in custody since. However, if anyone has new information concerning the case of her death or disappearance, they are encouraged to contact the Dallas County Sheriffs Office at 417-345-2441. Norton's lawyer, Brenden Twibell, told the Springfield News-Leader the new charges were expected and Norton will plead not guilty. Phelps was arrested at the scene on Sept. 16. In September, Phelps twice told investigators that Rainwater was staying with him while she got on her feet, but he said he hadn't seen her since she left about a month ago and that she was going to Colorado, Rice said. I refuse to do it | Opinion, Clark Hunt says hes surprised Chiefs players griped about facilities. (TCD) -- Two Missouri men accused of kidnapping Cassidy Rainwateralso face murder charges after Rainwater's dismembered remains were found in a freezer and on a nearby property. The Springfield Bomb Squad removed the device without any injuries to those handling the device. During the hearing, prosecutors asked for 45 days until the preliminary hearing due to the number of witnesses needed. She is listed as a freshman in the 2003 yearbook from . Cassidy Rainwaters alleged kidnappers have been unmasked as her alleged murderers, as police reveal the 33-year-olds brutal final moments. Privacy Policy | In partnership with Additional reporting by The Associated Press. what really happened to Cassidy Rainwater. They allegedly recovered messages between Phelps and Norton planning Rainwaters murder on Jul. It allows the defendant to accept a guilty verdict without a criminal trial, according to Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute. Police interviewed Timothy Norton on the disappearance of Rainwater. The red dot is where Phelps' cabin sits. James David Phelps, 58, told investigators that he was helping the 33-year-old woman "get back on her feet" and that she had been living in the loft area of his cabin at 386 Moon Valley Road. There are as many as 23 remains being looked into. The Dallas County Sheriffs Office has now revealed that the cage was the least of Rainwaters torment: She was strangled by the two men before being gutted and dismembered, according to the officials. 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. A home belonging to James Phelps. The other photos depicted Cassidys body bound to a gantry crane, commonly used for deer processing, and her evisceration and dismemberment.. Phelps' case was moved to Jasper County last week. Sheriff Rice said more of her remains were found scattered on a nearby property belonging to her grandfather Bill Rainwater. The FBI contacted Dallas County Sheriff's Office saying they had received an anonymous tip that Cassidy Rainwater was caged up on a property rented by Phelps. 18:16 BST 18 Nov 2021. The Springfield Bomb Squad also received a call to assist at the scene. On Sept. 1, a detective spoke to Phelps at his home in Lebanon. (KOLR) Cassidy Rainwater, the woman seen in a dark web photo being held in a cage in a partially nude state, was reported missing in August. ", They also found skeletal remains at an adjoining property, which "were confirmed by the crime lab to be Cassidy Rainwater.". Meanwhile, investigators returned to the scene of the fire during daylight hours to analyze the area. Several hours later, the bomb squad detonated the suspicious device. Authorities have not shared many updates since confirming the death of Rainwater on Nov. 17. Rainwater, 33, has been missing since late July, and court documents say investigators. Also on Friday, according to online court records, Judge Jill Porter sentenced Phelps to life in prison with no chance for parole. , updated Phelps had admitted to police that Rainwater had been living on his property, but he repeatedly tried to deflect investigators scrutiny, telling them that she up and left suddenly in late July after voicing plans to leave for Colorado. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. James Phelps, 58, and Timothy Norton, 56, were hit with the murder counts as well as being charged with abandonment of a corpse. Photos from FBI investigators that were included in court documents on Wednesday also showed her dismembered and semi-naked body that was allegedly strapped into a device. In a Springfield Bomb Squad report, investigators said they found an incendiary device during a fire at the home connected to James Phelps. An award-winning journalist who has worked forRolling Stone and MTV News, Chris enjoys prog rock, cycling, Marvel movies, IPAs, and roller coasters. Everything was quiet and I thought moving to the country was going to be the best fit, but now.I dont want to move back to the city but now I feel like I might have made a bad choice, says Williams. (KY3) - The Dallas County Sheriffs Office led a months-long investigation into the disappearance and death of Cassidy Rainwater, a case that took national spotlight several weeks after she initially went missing. The address listed for him on online court systems and court documents showed the same address as James Phelps home on Moon Valley Road. Authorities searched the area to figure out how the fire started and if there could be more tripwires than one spotted near the home. By That man, James Phelps, had initially been arrested and charged with kidnapping Rainwater in September, along with another man named Timothy Norton, a trucker who had been living on Phelps property. The Dallas County Sheriffs Office confirmed with OzarksFirst around 10 p.m., the home caught fire Monday. Investigators determined it to be arson. More than a month after their arrests, no additional charges had been filed against Phelps and Norton. The murder charges were announced on Wednesday. Per court records, that is when he admitted details to authorities about restraining Rainwater back in July. Per court records, James Phelps told police the last time he saw Cassidy was on this day. Two men charged in September with felony kidnapping have now been charged with murder in the missing persons case of Cassidy Rainwater, a Missouri woman who appeared caged and partially nude in photos sent to the FBI. Rainwater was last seen alive in mid-July. Authorities have said there is no reason to believe that there are other victims associated with Mr Phelps and Mr Norton, and that the investigation is ongoing. Ive been incredibly unsettled since the whole Menagerie started, she said. In a September announcement of Phelps arrest, Sheriff Scott Rice had said, Due to the extreme nature of the, In the weeks following the arrest, rumors spread on, trespass, litter, vandalize, harass, or destroy property., In another strange development, on Oct. 4, a, started at Phelps property where Rainwaters remains were found burned the house to the ground.

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