Doniphan, Mo., man accused of shooting his father and stepmother

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- A Doniphan woman is recovering from a gunshot wound in a Cape Girardeau hospital following an incident Sunday that left her husband dead.

Police have arrested the woman's 21-year-old stepson, Bryan Portwood Jr., on charges of first-degree murder, first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action. Portwood is being held without bond at the Doniphan City Jail.

Authorities were called at 9:46 p.m. to the home of Jeanna Portwood, 28, and Bryan Portwood Sr., 44. Portwood Jr. also lived at the residence.

Deputies found the elder Portwood dead from an apparent gunshot wound to the head, according to reports from the Ripley County Sheriff's Department. His wife was found in critical condition, suffering from a gunshot wound to her upper body. Jeanna Portwood was taken by ambulance to Ripley County Memorial Hospital, then airlifted to Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

A witness at the home, four miles north of Doniphan, told authorities Portwood Jr. had shot the couple.

Authorities were initially concerned a shooter might still be on the Portwood property, according to Ripley County Sheriff's Department chief deputy Ben Hall. They were later told by those at the scene Portwood Jr. had left in a white Ford Ranger 20 minutes before the deputies' arrival. The scene was secured and law enforcement within Ripley County and the surrounding area, including Arkansas, were given a description of Portwood Jr. and the vehicle.

Deputies arrested the man at 10:55 p.m. Sunday during a traffic stop on Highway 160, about 15 miles from the Portwoods' residence.

According to a probable-cause statement, after being read his rights, Portwood Jr. waived those rights and told investigators he went to his parents' bedroom Sunday night, got his father's rifle and loaded the weapon.

The statement said Portwood Jr. stated he exited his parents' bedroom and shot and killed his father, who he saw sitting in the living room.

The man told authorities his stepmother then opened a bedroom door down the hall and he shot her.

According to the statement, Portwood Jr. said his stepmother locked the door to the bedroom and left the house through a window.

Portwood Jr. forced his way into the locked room, where Jeanna Portwood's 5-year-old son was, according to reports. Portwood Jr. then left the residence without harming the child.

A rifle was recovered from Portwood Jr.'s vehicle Sunday night.

Authorities believe Portwood Jr. may suffer from mental disabilities, said Sheriff Ron Barnett.

Sunday was not the first time deputies had responded to an incident involving the Portwood family. On Feb. 18, they were called to investigate a suspicious fire at Portwood Jr.'s home. Details of this fire were turned over to the Missouri State Fire Marshall and the Ripley County Domestic Violence Emergency Response Team. It is still under investigation. Portwood Jr. moved into his father's home following the fire, Barnett said.