Springfield Authorities Investigating Apparent Homicide, Suspect Now Charged:

Clarence L. Smith is charged with murder, assault and armed criminal action (mug shot GCSO)

Authorities in Springfield are investigating an apparent homicide in the northwest part of the city.

One man is dead, and at least two other people suffered injuries during a knife fight in the 1300 block of Mt. Vernon Street about 4 p.m. Sunday.

A woman, who appeared to be bleeding from her leg, was treated at the scene and another woman said she was stabbed in the arm.

Corporal Matt Brown says the man is being questioned about the incident that is being investigated as a suspicious death.  “It’s a possibility it could be upgraded to a homicide at some point,” he said.

On July 12th authorities were called to a murder/suicide four houses away from Sunday's stabbing.

UPDATE 08-29-11:

Clarence L. Smith, 55, has been charged with second-degree murder for the death of  39 year-old Terry Lynn Brake, two counts of assault and three counts of armed criminal action.  Authorities say Smith allegedly "snapped" when he found out Brake and his ex-girlfriend were dating. 
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He is being held without bond. 

Terry Lynn Brake

Springfield Police Turning To The Web In An Effort To Solve Cold Cases:

The Springfield police department has added a new feature to their website that focuses on the department's unsolved cold cases.

Until now the department only had information into Springfield's most baffling unsolved mystery, the Three Missing Women on the site.  "Chief Williams asked why we didn't have other cases up.  We really didn't have an answer," said Springfield police public information officer Corporal Matt Brown.  "So we decided to utilize the tools available."

Sherill Levitt, Suzanne "Suzie" Streeter and Stacy McCall went missing from Levitt's home in June of 1992.  Now, seven other unsolved cases are highlighted in an attempt to bring a resolution to them.

The cases, which date from1992 and 2002, "Are not all inclusive for every cold case homicide the SPD is investigating, but are included because they have the most recent homicide information to date within a relatively recent time frame," Brown said in a news release.

"We have some cold cases that go back to the '50's but we had to look realistically at the viability of the cases we decided to spotlight.  Some of them are just one or two tips away from solving....others will take more work," said Brown.

Each case is summarized with the initial events surrounding the death of each victim each including the date, time, location and possible suspect information.

Arrest Made In Shooting Connected To Bondsman At Convenience Store On City's North Side:

Derek E. Crain (mug shot GCSO)

Authorities have charged a Springfield man with second-degree assault for allegedly shooting a man while a bonds person was attempting to arrest the man for bail jumping.

Springfield police public information officer Corporal Matt Brown says Derek E. Crain, 27, was booked into the county jail for shooting John William James Jr. at the Kum & Go on North National early Monday morning. 

Crain is also facing charges of armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon and engaging in fugitive recovery without a license.
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Kum & Go On N. National (courtesy KSPR)

Brown says that Jackie Rutter, the bonds person, and three other people had tracked James Jr., 29, to the convenience store and were attempting to take him into custody for bail jumping when he was shot.

According to Brown, "she attempted to tase him - but he broke free."  Crain told investigators "his gun just went off," in the scuffle, according to Brown.
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According to the probable cause statement filed late this afternoon, authorities were dispatched to 2953 N. National for a report about a man being stabbed or shot about 2:40 Monday (04-18-11) morning.

When officer Scott Hill arrived on the scene he found Lance Batman and Jackie Rutter holding James Jr., who was covered in blood, down in the middle of National Avenue not far from the store.

"Officer Hill says Rutter identified herself as a bail bond agent and advised James Jr. was jumping bail."   Both Rutter and Batman were placed in handcuffs and arrested.

EMT's attending to James Jr., found he had been shot in the left side of his chest.  The bullet exited near his shoulder, according to court documents.

Crain, and another woman, Clarissa Ferguson were located near a green mini-van on the store's parking lot.  They were both taken to headquarters for questioning.
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Crain told Corporal Kevin Shipley that "he had been assisting Rutter in attempting to apprehend John James Jr., and he was not a bail bond agent, but wanted to become one."
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"Crain stated that he had been with Rutter, Batman and Ferguson in the green van when they drove to the Kum & Go after learning James Jr. was possibly there."  At first Crain told Shipley that he wasn't armed and  had no knowledge of a gun being fired or used in the incident.
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He later changed his story and said Rutter had given him her handgun and he put it in the pocket of his shorts when he entered the store.  Crain says he, Rutter and Batman approached the bathroom in an attempt to take James Jr. into custody.
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Crain told Shipley that Batman attempted to open the unlocked door but James Jr., suddenly opened the door and bolted.  It was at that point that Rutter deployed the taser and Crain pulled the gun out of his pocket, "Crain stated that as they attempted to apprehend James Jr. he was knocked backward and the handgun fired,"  according to court records.
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James then ran from the store and was chased down National Avenue by Rutter, Batman and Crain.  Crain says that after James collapsed in the street he asked Rutter what he should do with the weapon.  Crain says Rutter told him "to give her the gun, or get rid of it."  Crain told Shipley he put the revolver in the van where it was later recovered.

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John William James Jr. (mug shot GCSO)

James, who underwent surgery for his injury yesterday (04-18-11), has a lengthy criminal record that includes convictions for trafficking in stolen identities, theft of credit cards or letters of credit, forgery and tampering with motor vehicles.

A probation violation hearing is scheduled for James on May 10th. He is currently facing a forgery, tampering and resisting arrest charges

Brown says he had no idea what James was booked into the Greene County jail for last Wednesday.  It was the company Rutter works for, Allison Bonding Company, that posted $75,000 bond on two cases for his release last week.

~DEVELOPING~Bail Bondsman And Three Others Being Questioned About Assault On North Side Of Springfield:

Crime scene tape surrounds the Kum & Go at National and Norton Rd. (courtesy KSPR)

Details are sketchy and Springfield Police are releasing very little information about a man who suffered serious injuries at the Kum & Go at National and Norton Road about 2:30 this (04-18-11) morning.

Corporal Matt Brown says responding officers found John William James, Jr., 29, with an injury to the chest.  Some reports say he was stabbed, others say the man was shot.

Brown says four people, one of them a bondsman in Springfield, are being questioned and have some sort of association with James, who underwent surgery for his wound/s.

The store and an area about a block long from the crime scene were taped off as investigators searched for clues in the case.  Investigators were scene bagging evidence from a van on the parking lot today.

James has a lengthy criminal record that includes convictions for trafficking in stolen identities, theft of credit cards or letters of credit, forgery and tampering with motor vehicles.

He was booked into the Greene County jail last Wednesday (04-13-11) and released on bond.  There is no indication if the bonding company connected to his release is connected to this incident.

~~UPDATED~~Springfield Police Launch Suspicious Death Investigation After Woman Found Dead Behind Storage Business:



Yvonne Lowers (SPD)

Police in Springfield are investigating the "suspicious" death of a woman found about 8 a.m. this morning behind Go Mini's at 3115 S. Scenic.

Corporal Matt Brown says authorities aren't sure how long the woman, who was unclothed from the waist down, may have been there as the business which houses warehouses for Churchill Coffee and portable storage for business isn't utilized much during the weekend.



Body found behind Go Mini's (courtesy KTTS)



Brown says investigators are in the beginning stages of the investigation and could not comment on whether or not the woman had any visible wounds to her body.  Brown also wasn't sure if the storage business or another business across the street had surveillance cameras. 



People passing by the business reported that a Jeep had run into a ditch near the business earlier in the morning.  Brown says he's not sure if that is related to the investigation.



UPDATE 01-12-11:

Police have identified the victim as Yvonne Lowers who lived about a mile-and-a-half from where she was found dead.

Preliminary autopsy results did not reveal a cause of death.  Greene County Medical Examiner Doug Anderson believes hypothermia could have been a contributing factor.

The Springfield Police Department is asking anyone that has information about Lowers activities from about 1 p.m. on Sunday January 9th until her body was found to call them at 417-864-1810.