Argument Over Broken Water Heater Leads To Stabbing In Stone County:

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Marsha Diane Clarke (mug shot SCSO)

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An argument over a water heater appears to be the alleged motive of a stabbing Wednesday night in Stone County.

Stone County Sheriff Richard Hill says authorities from his office and the Christian County Sheriff's Office responded to 1700 Shelvin Rock Road, which is on the Stone and Christian County line, about 8:15 p.m.

Witnesses told investigators that Marsha Diane Clarke, 53, and her live-in boyfriend Marty David Fenley, 45, were arguing with their 38-year-old landlord because he couldn't fix the water heater and about a dog living inside the couples apartment when Clarke allegedly grabbed a long bladed knife and stabbed the landlord.  Per her rental agreement Clarke was not supposed to have an animal living in the apartment, according to a news release from Sheriff Hill.
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The victim is in stable condition after undergoing surgery at a Springfield hospital for a stab wound to the abdomen.

Clarke has been charged with first degree assault and armed criminal action and is being held in the Stone County jail on $100,000 bond.
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Marty David Fenley (mug shot SCSO)

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Fenley was arrested on a probation violation.  He is accused of violating the terms of his 2005 parole on a conviction of being a persistent drunk driver.  He is being held without bond in the Stone County.

Reeds Spring Man Shot Seven Times In Domestic Disturbance Remains In Critical Condition:

Jason Devron Campbell (SCSO)

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A man from Reeds Spring who was shot seven times during a domestic disturbance on December 15th remains in the intensive care unit following several surgeries.

Stone County Sheriff Richard Hill says Jason Devron Campbell, 40, was drinking and out of control at his home at 196 Jami a little after 10:45 p.m. when he chased his girlfriend to her sister's next door.

When no one inside the sister's house would open the door for Campbell, he kicked it in.  A 39 year-old man inside the residence then shot Campbell who was holding a knife. 
 

Hill says deputies have dealt with Campbell a number of times regarding burglaries, assaults and domestic violence.  "We're very familiar with Mr. Campbell, "  Hill stated.

Stone County Prosecutor Matt Selby charged Campbell with third-degree domestic assault and third-degree assault on November 17th for an unrelated incident.  He pleaded not guilty to those charges and is scheduled to reappear in court for that case on January 25, 2011.

Hill says Campbell faces additional surgery, "At this point we don't know if he's gonna make it."

Former Employee Facing Arson Charges For Fire That Destroyed Stone County Business:

Richard S. Bumbery (SCSO)

Authorities in Stone County have charged a former employee of a business with arson in connection to a fire that caused over a million dollars worth of damage to the business.

Stone County Prosecutor Matt Selby charged Richard S. Bumbery, 45, with first degree arson for the fire that destroyed Bolivar Insulation last Sunday (12-12-10). 
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Mark Newsom-SSCFPD

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Firefighters who were dispatched to the blaze at 5:28 a.m. were hampered by brutal winds winds and frigid temperatures as they fought the early morning fire.  At one point the fire was so intense firefighters closed part of Highway OO while they fought the blaze for nearly seven hours.

Selby says Bumbery admitted to someone that he started the fire and wanted to do even more damage to the business. 

Sheriff Richard Hill says investigator's were led to Bumbery after a tipster called the C.O.M.E.T Drug Task Force.  The tipster told authorities that Bumbery described how he sparked the blase and told them they would find a tool stolen from the business in the mans living room.

Bumbery was arrested when Stone County deputies assisted by the Highway Patrol executed a search warrant at 51 Sparrow Lane in Galena.
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He is being held in the Stone County Jail on a $200,000 cash only bond.

Busy Week For Tri-Lakes Internet Crimes Task Force; Springfield Man Nabbed:

Edward T. Resch (mug shot SCSO)

The Tri-Lakes Internet Crimes Task Force has busted a Springfield man after a ten month investigation by authorities in Stone County.

Stone County Sheriff Richard Hill says, Edward T. Resch, 51, was arrested on August 12th by deputies with the Stone and Greene County sheriff’s offices. Resch has been charged with sexual misconduct of a child after allegedly sending pornographic material to an undercover detective posing as a 14 year-old girl.

After Resch was arrested, detectives executed a search warrant at his home and recovered electronic media components allegedly used in the crime.

Resch is being held in the at the Stone County Jail on $20,000 bond.

Two Charged With Dogfighting In Stone County, 15 Dogs Rescued:

Two men from Stone County have been charged with dogfighting after a seven month investigation by the Stone County Sheriff's Office and officers with the C.O.M.E.T drug task force.

An undercover agent entered into a "contract" withJon P. Stingley to purchase a pit bull named Whiskey with the understanding that Stingley, 42, would teach the dog to fight. The agent went to Stingley's property at 3760 State Hwy 13 in Lampe on July 7th to observe the progress of the dog, Stingley pitted Whiskey and another dog against each other briefly. Another man who was there, Don Owens, 41, of Blue Eye, pried the jaws of the dog off of the other. Immediately after the dogfight the undercover officer served Stingley the search warrant and he and Owens were busted.

The Humane Society says seven adult pit bulls and eight puppies about two weeks old were rescued from the property.

The dogs were rescued from Jon P. Stingley's property in Lampe

The investigation began last December after Stone County Sheriff Richard Hill received a tip about dog fighting at the Lampe property. Sheriff Hill asked C.O.M.E.T to assist in the investigation as they have the resources to send in undercover officers.

Stone County Chief Deputy Rich Anderson says the older dogs were found chained to logs on a heavily wooded hillside that is littered with abandoned trucks, dilapidated out buildings and trash. A humane society worker says the dogs were fed what appeared to be pig slop.

Anderson says authorities seized documents in the raid that indicate dogfighting took place at the property. Anderson says, "I think we got 'em all. There was some evidence of business transactions that look like some dogs were sold...but we got all of them that were on the property."

Anderson says that his office contacted the Humane Society when they knew the warrant had been approved. Stingley voluntarily surrendered the dogs to the Humane Society facility in St. Louis for treatment. Their goal is to rehabilitate the dogs and place them up for adoption.


Stone County Prosecutor Matt Selby has charged Stingley with seven felony counts of dogfighting. One is from December of last year, the other seven are dated July 7th. Owens has been charged with six counts of felony dogfighting.

Both men are being held in the Stone County jail on $25,000 cash only bonds.

Ironically, the bust in Stone County took place on the one-year anniversary of the largest dogfighting raid in U.S. history. Twenty-six suspects were arrested and more than 500 dogs rescued in a series of busts in Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.