Sheriff's deputies trail bondsman to suspect

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Trailing a local bail bondsman Wednesday afternoon led deputies to the second suspect in the shotgun death of the owner of Bud's Country Store at Wappapello, Mo.

This came nearly a month after Donald Ray Phillips had been charged for a second time in connection with Gary Lee "Bud" Ayers' death.

Ayers, 52, of Wappapello was found dead inside his store on Highway T on Feb. 22.

Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Barbour charged Phillips, 50, of the 100 block of Lincoln and Jason Lee Lovell, 22, of Essex, Mo., with the Class A felony of second-degree murder, the unclassified felony of armed criminal action and the Class B felony of first-degree burglary on July 25.

Although Lovell was picked up that same day, authorities had been searching for Phillips since then.

Phillips was arrested at about 2 p.m. at the Greason Street residence of his brothers, Paul and Norman, in Fisk, Mo. He was booked at the Butler County jail where he is being held without bond on the charges in connection with Ayers' death.