Stoddard County authorities await extradition of man wanted for stealing

DEXTER, Mo. -- The Stoddard County Sheriff's Department is awaiting word from authorities in New Orleans on the extradition of a Malden, Mo., man.

Chris Rauscher, 38, may be sent back to Stoddard County from Louisiana to face a number of charges that originated from a July incident.

Rauscher was questioned in July after being implicated in a rural business break-in. After questioning, further evidence pointed to his involvement in the crime, and Rauscher was asked to report to local police July 16 for more questioning. He failed to report to police and to his job at a local car dealership following the lunch period that day.

Police were unable to find Rauscher, and it was believed he left the area in the 2010 Hyundai Sonata that had been granted him for company use from the dealership.

A warrant was issued for Rauscher's arrest July 20. Charges are also pending against him in Cape Girardeau County, where he is alleged to have wrecked a vehicle from a car dealership and reported it as stolen.

He is also on probation in Dunklin County on a stealing conviction.

Rauscher has an option to refuse extradition from New Orleans, in which case an order from the governor will need to be obtained in order to return him to Missouri to face charges.

Should that transpire, it may be weeks before he is returned to his home state.