Man arrested after body found on Poplar Bluff parking lot

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A Doniphan, Mo., man was arrested and booked on suspicion of voluntary manslaughter and probation violation after an elderly man was found dead behind a Poplar Bluff building that once housed a hotel.

An autopsy was to be performed Wednesday morning in Farmington, Mo., on the 68-year-old Poplar Bluff man found dead early Tuesday morning behind the former Pear Tree Inn on North Westwood Boulevard.

Dr. Russell Deidiker was to perform the autopsy on Roger Easley, who had been struck during an altercation, according to Butler County Coroner Jim Akers.

A CT scan done on Easley's body Tuesday came back negative for skull fracture and internal bleeding, Akers said.

Authorities learned of the incident at about 12:40 a.m. Tuesday when a call came in from the parking lot of the former Pear Tree Inn from Shawn Richardson and Stevie Marie Kara, who reported they had arrived there and "found a white male they only knew as Roger laying on the parking lot, bleeding and unresponsive," said Lt. David Sutton. "They administered CPR and called 911."

When officers arrived, Sutton said, they found the 68-year-old laying on his back on the north parking lot. Easley was taken to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

"During subsequent interviews, it was learned a Benjamin [Kenneth] Redden had actually been there" prior to the officers' arrival, Sutton said.

Det. Bryce Colvin and Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Dennis Overbey, with Troop E's Division of Drug and Crime Control, interviewed Redden in Doniphan.

Redden "admitted that he had struck [Easley] repeatedly during an altercation on Business Highway 60 and N Highway," Sutton explained. "The altercation was over narcotics [marijuana]."

During the alleged assault, "Easley collapsed," Sutton said. "Redden got [Easley] back into his car and stated he was driving to the hospital" when he called Richardson.

"[Richardson] convinced him to take Easley to the former Pear Tree Inn parking lot," Sutton said. "They moved him from the vehicle, began CPR and called 911. Redden left the scene."

Sutton described Easley, whose last known address was at the Guesthouse Inn, and Redden as being acquaintances for some time.

The men had met at a bar Tuesday night, and they, along with Richardson and Kara, had been drinking together at some downtown bars, he said.

After the interview, Redden, 20, was taken to the police station where he was booked on suspicion of voluntary manslaughter and probation violation. He subsequently was booked at the Butler County jail.

"Pending the formal findings of the autopsy, additional or different charges may be requested," said Police Chief Danny Whiteley.

A Probation & Parole spokesman said Redden was placed on a three-year term of supervised probation on Feb. 15 in Ripley County for second-degree burglary.

Pertinent address:

Poplar Bluff, MO

Doniphan, MO