Found Deceased MO - Sussette Benhardt, 50, Lincoln County, 23 June 2016

According to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office , 50-year-old William Benhardt, of Lincoln County, and Sussette Benhardt, also 50, were last seen at their business, Snow Hill Nursery, near Troy, MO, around 10:00am Wednesday, June 22, having an argument.

The two are reportedly going through a divorce but still living together.

Click to expand...

Later that day, deputies found 50-year-old William Benhardt dead in his truck with what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His .357 revolver had fired two rounds.

His wife, 50-year-old Sussette Benhardt, is still missing.

Click to expand...

The body of the man — William Benhardt, 50, — was found in his truck north of Bellflower, Mo., about 4 p.m. Police said he died of a single gunshot wound, but it appeared two rounds had been fired from his .357 revolver.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department said Benhardt’s wife — Sussette Benhardt, also 50 — is considered missing and endangered.

William Benhardt was a former member of the Troy School Board.

Click to expand...

Authorities said the couple, who operate the Snow Hill Nurserynortheast of Troy, Mo., were going through a divorce and were last seen arguing Wednesday morning outside a barn next to the business. The two had still been living together at their home on the same property.

Click to expand...

Tabirey said:

Comments on this one are heartbreaking, obviously a very tight knit community :

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?st...index=0&id=142082305987864&ref=content_filter

Click to expand...

kdg411 said:

Tight knit is putting it lightly. This couple are/were friends with my parents.

Click to expand...

kdg411 said:

Tight knit is putting it lightly. This couple are/were friends with my parents.

Click to expand...

During the search of the residence, Sussette’s cellular phone was located in a washing machine along with a covert digital recording device. Early this morning during a forensic analysis of the recorder detectives discovered a digital audio recording.

The audio file indicated an assault on Sussette by William.

Click to expand...

Teams of officers and firefighters, including divers and K-9 units, spent Saturday searching the couple’s 128-acre property, including their Snow Hill Nursery, where Sussette Benhardt was last seen arguing with her husband Wednesday morning.

William and Sussette Benhardt, both 50, were going through a divorce. They have three grown children.

Binder said officers suspended the search about 7 p.m. Saturday and will proceed with “a more focused approach to include multiple properties” the couple own.

Assisting the sheriff’s office Saturday were members of Lincoln County Fire Protection District No. 1 and Missouri Region “C” Technical Rescue Team.

Binder said officers with the St. Charles County internet crimes unit assisted in analyzing the cellphone and recording device.

Binder said a murder-suicide is a possibility, but deputies have no way to know whether Sussette Benhardt is alive or dead.

Click to expand...

Montgomery County Sheriff Matt Schoo said Thursday afternoon the remains were positively identified as Sussette Benhardt.

Click to expand...