Regional briefs 1/3/16

Dad allegedly abducted child from day care

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A Bismarck, Missouri, man faces charges after being accused of forcing his way into a day-care center, pulling blankets off sleeping children and taking his child to another county in apparent violation of a custody agreement, reported the Daily American Republic. Casey J. Rayfield, 28, was arrested Tuesday by police in St. Francois County, Missouri, on suspicion of first-degree burglary and child abduction, both felonies. According to Butler County sheriff's reports, Rayfield arrived at 12:05 p.m. Monday at Little Heart's Daycare in the 2400 block of Township Line Road in Butler County and was allowed in by someone not aware of what a day-care employee described as a custody dispute. A worker who knew Rayfield saw him in the building and told him to leave, but he replied, "No. I'm here to get (the child)" and said he was taking the child to Farmington, Missouri, according to reports. The worker told deputies Rayfield was acting "crazy" and intimidated her. Rayfield entered the day-care part of the building and began "going through" children until he found his child, speaking loudly and pulling the blankets from sleeping children as he went. Apparently, his child awakened and said, "Daddy." Rayfield took the child and fled north on Township Line Road, reports stated.

Hearing set for 5 charged in death

KENNETT, Mo. -- Preliminary hearings are set for all but one of those charged in the death of a Kennett man in 2012. A Feb. 1 hearing date was set for James Furlow, Jessica Chapin, Derrick Furlow and Jennifer Cauble. James Furlow and Chapin are to appear before Associate Circuit Judge Joe Satterfield. Derek Furlow and Cauble will appear before Associate Circuit Judge John Spielman, the Daily Dunklin Democrat reported. According to court documents, Jonathan Coffer died after being injected with methamphetamine and being beaten Nov. 10, 2012. James Furlow and Chapin are charged with second-degree murder, robbery and two counts of tampering with evidence. Derrick Furlow, Cauble and Larry Lance are charged with two counts of tampering with evidence.

Teen shooting victim in Sikeston ID'd

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The name of the victim of a fatal shooting Tuesday was revealed. According to the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, Devin Alexander, 17, died from a gunshot wound to the chest after a shooting about 9 p.m. Tuesday in the 800 block of Apache Drive in Sikeston, the Standard Democrat reported. Alexander was taken from the scene by private vehicle to Missouri Delta Medical Center, where he died from his injuries. Tiarrius Gant, 17, of Sikeston is charged with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and discharge of a weapon at or from a motor vehicle and second-degree felony murder during perpetration/attempted perpetration or flight from perpetration of a felony where a person dies in connection with the shooting. Gant was taken into custody in the St. Louis area Wednesday morning.

2 more arrested in alleged burglary ring

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Two more people were arrested last week over their alleged role in a Stoddard County burglary ring. Eric Randall Schmidt, 25, and Amber Craft, 36, both of Bloomfield, were arrested Wednesday and are being held in the Stoddard County Jail on $100,000 bond each for second-degree burglary and felony stealing, the Daily Statesman reported. According to the probable-cause statement filed by Stoddard County sheriff's deputy Garry Brady, several stolen items, including televisions and an electric fireplace, were seized at a Bloomfield apartment occupied by Schmidt and Craft. Previously jailed were Roy Aaron Shepherd, 35, James Michael Gordon, 37, and Kimberly Sharon Lady, 37, all of Bloomfield. Previous reports indicated the detainees allegedly were involved in at least six burglaries in Stoddard County.

-- From staff reports