New Madrid man accused of killing wife by running her over with car

NEW MADRID, Mo. — A New Madrid man is charged with murder in connection with the death of his wife.

George W. Dawson Jr., 62, is charged with second-degree murder and driving while intoxicated-persistent offender after the death Wednesday evening of his wife, Jane Ann Dawson, 59.

According to a probable-cause statement filed by New Madrid assistant police chief Brandon Hanner, the department received a 911 call at 8:16 p.m. Wednesday about an accidental death in the 800 block of Kingshighway.

Hanner wrote when he arrived at the residence, he was met by George W. Dawson III, who pointed to the back of the residence, where Hanner saw a male lying on the ground.

“As I approached, I recognized the male on the ground as George W. Dawson Jr. Dawson Jr. was crying heavily and was lying next to a deceased body which was covered by a dark-colored blanket,” Hanner wrote. “Dawson Jr. was holding the right hand of the body.”

Hanner wrote he uncovered the upper portion of the body and saw serious skull deformities. He was unable to detect a pulse.

Dawson III identified the body as his mother, Jane Ann Dawson.

In the statement, Hanner said when he asked Dawson Jr. what happened, he said he and his wife were arguing and his wife attacked him with a crucifix while outside their residence. Dawson Jr. said he got into his vehicle, attempted to drive away and ran over his wife.

Hanner wrote he could see sliding hand prints on the hood of the vehicle, damage to the front driver’s door of the vehicle and other areas of contact around the vehicle.

Dawson III was interviewed by two New Madrid County sheriff’s deputies, Hanner reported. He told them his father had called and asked to come to his house to get away from his mother because they were fighting. When his father pulled into his driveway, honking the horn, he told his son they had fought.

The son drove his father back to his residence and saw his mother on the ground. After determining his mother was dead, the son directed his father to get a blanket and his cellphone. The son used the phone to call 911.

New Madrid officer B.J. Phillips took Dawson Jr. to the sheriff’s office. According to a probable-cause statement filed in the case, Phillips did not ask Dawson Jr. any questions but he began telling what happened.

“Dawson Jr. said he and Jane had fought for 42 years, but that he loved her,” Hanner wrote. “Dawson Jr. stated he knew he ‘knocked her down with the door,’ and that when he arrived at Dawson III’s house, he told him Jane didn’t get up and that he wanted Dawson III to go with him because he didn’t want to go by himself.

“Dawson Jr. stated, ‘I thought it’d be me. I really did. All these years I thought it’d be me. I thought she’d kill me. And now I killed her. And I didn’t mean to,’” Hanner wrote.

At the sheriff’s office, a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper conducted field sobriety tests. Hanner stated the officer believed Dawson Jr. was intoxicated on alcohol, a controlled substance or a combination of the two.

Bond for Dawson was set at $150,000. He was being held in the Pemiscot County Jail with arraignment scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday in Division II of New Madrid County Circuit Court before Associate Judge Joshua Underwood.

Pertinent address:

800 block of Kingshighway, New Madrid, Mo.