Webb City Youth Pastor Fleeing From Police On Child Molestation Allegation Kills Himself:

Authorties in Jasper County are investigating the death of Webb City man who fled from them as they attempted to arrest him on alleged child molestation charges.

Captain Derek Walrod says that deputies were assisting investigators with the Webb City Police Department in the arrest of 33 year-old Jason R. Piepenbrink and were sent to a church camp to arrest the man.


On the way to the camp officers were told that youth pastor had fled to a friends house at 12173 County Road 140 in Carthage. Walrod says when officers arrived at that home, they discovered the back door had been forced open. When the officers entered the home, they found Piepenbrink on the bathroom floor with a knife in his chest.

Walrod says investigators believe the fatal wound was self inflicted. "We are helping Webb City with the death investigation, at this point we don't believe there is any foul play involved in Mr. Piepenbrink's death." A passenger van parked in the driveway of the home where Piepenbrink was found dead belongs to Calvary Baptist Church in Joplin.

Sgt. Joe Beckett with the Webb City Police Department declined to comment on the child molestation investigation, "We're not done with our investigation and have no comment."