Man's body found in truck leads to Missouri standoff

LADDONIA, Mo. -- A truck driver wanted for questioning after a body was found in the refrigerated compartment of a tractor-trailer was arrested in eastern Missouri on Wednesday after a nearly daylong hostage standoff.

Audrain County Sheriff Stuart Miller said the situation ended peacefully when 38-year-old Chester Harvey Jr. released his 14-year-old son, who was his last hostage, and surrendered.

On Monday night, the Missouri State Highway Patrol received a tip about a possible homicide and contacted the sheriff's department.

Authorities said in a probable-cause statement that Harvey told the tipster he killed a man he had picked up in California and placed him in a rig's trailer while he figured out how to "dispose of the body."

Officials obtained a search warrant and on Tuesday found the body wrapped in a covering in the trailer, which was parked in a lot along U.S. 54 east of Vandalia, the probable cause statement said.

Miller said authorities did not know the identity of the victim and were awaiting an autopsy to determine the cause of death. He said the tractor had been leased to Harvey and the trailer belonged to an undisclosed company.

Officers cornered Harvey later Tuesday in a house in Laddonia, where authorities say he held his wife and four children hostage.

Harvey released his first two hostages, ages 7 and 16, on Tuesday, officials said. Miller said a 9-year-old son in a wheelchair -- who is on dialysis and was overdue for a treatment -- wasn't released until 2 a.m. Wednesday. Harvey's wife, identified as Angela Dawn, 34, was released about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. The 14-year-old was freed Wednesday morning as well.

Miller said Harvey was charged Tuesday night in a warrant with kidnapping, which stems from the claims that he held the 9-year-old hostage, and abandonment of a corpse.

He said Harvey has not asked for an attorney. Online court records show a motion was made Wednesday for the public defender's office to meet with Harvey and apply to represent him.

Miller said Harvey would be held at the Audrain County Jail. The probable-cause statement said Harvey was a danger to the community because he has made statements that he will "go down in a blaze of glory."

Authorities are offering a $1,000 reward for information.