Advance woman stabbed to death; son arrested

ADVANCE, Mo. -- An 80-year-old Advance woman was found stabbed to death in her home Friday. Her 50-year-old son, who police say has a history of mental problems, is being held on suspicion of the crime.

Just before 11 a.m., police responded to a call at 806 W. Masters St., Apt. 15, and found the victim, Nada G. VanGennip, dead of multiple stab wounds, said Stoddard County Sheriff Carl Hefner.

Nothing was taken from inside the home. However, VanGennip's car was missing, so authorities released a statewide bulletin to law enforcement officers to look out for the car.

The vehicle was soon located on Interstate 55 in Ste. Genevieve County. It was being driven by the victim's son, David VanGennip, who resides in a different apartment in the same housing complex his mother lived in.

VanGennip was arrested and transported to the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department, where a warrant was issued for second-degree murder and armed criminal action.

He is being held under a $1 million cash-only bond.