GUILTY MO - Kenneth Willard, 53, Zalma, 24 Oct 2014

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Kenneth Willard
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Family searching for answers in Stoddard County missing persons case
BOLLINGER COUNTY, MO (KFVS) - The family of 53-year-old Kenneth Willard of Bismark, Missouri is looking for answers in his disappearance. The Stoddard County Sheriff says family members have not heard from Willard in 10 weeks. He was last seen at the Arab Station Convenience Store in Zalma, Mo. on Oct. 24, 2014. Deputies found Willard's truck in northern Stoddard County at a family farm where he was hunting. Willard's brother says that Kenneth Willard was a great guy who got along with everyone. "He was just his happy-go-lucky self,” Ray Willard said. “He's always been happy-go-lucky and he'd do anything in the world for anybody."
http://www.kfvs12.com/story/2781893...swers-in-stoddard-county-missing-persons-case
 
St. Francois County man still missing, last seen in Stoddard County

It looked like an ordinary camp site -- much like any other that is used by numerous deer hunters in the area. It appeared that someone had simply been there and then left, with no indications of foul play.

This is one of the puzzling pieces of information surrounding the disappearance of a St. Francois County man from Stoddard County.

According to the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department, Kenneth Allen Willard, 53, of Bismarck, left his home for a hunting trip in Stoddard County on Oct. 20, 2014, and was expected to return five days later. He was last seen by his daughter on Oct. 24, at the Arab Station Convenience Store at the junction of Highway 51 and Highway C, in Zalma.

"This is an open case and we are pursuing all leads," Stoddard County Sheriff Carl Hefner commented. "We have received some calls from people who think they may have seen him, and we're pursuing every lead that we get."

http://www.dailystatesman.com/story/2159370.html
 
Oh no! I really was not expecting homicide in this case. RIP Mr. Willard.
 
http://www.standard-democrat.com/story/2160212.html

According to Stoddard County Sheriff's Department Detective Andy Holden, Willard's disappearance had been narrowed down to approximately Oct. 27 or 28...

Holden explained that he was been able to find when Willard's cell phone was last used, as well as the last time his debit card was used. Beyond that, though, no more solid information had been forthcoming.
 
http://www.waynecojournalbanner.com/article_16e1f2a6-ac86-11e4-9c20-034c8a206399.html

He said his son, Russell, and Willard pulled up to the sawmill in Roger's truck and the two began helping him at the sawmill.

Roger told police as they were working on the sawmill he heard a gunshot and saw that Willard was dead. Roger said he asked Russell why he killed Willard and Russell said, "it was either him or me." Roger said his son felt like "Kenny was setting him up to kill him and it was all over dope." Roger said the two did not have any type of altercation before the murder.

Roger said he felt sick so he went home. He said later on Brandi Mayberry showed up at the house saying she needed help. He said they returned to the mill where Willard's body had been wrapped in a tarp... Roger told police he helped load the body on the trailer, and a while later he drove his truck pulling the trailer to Black River Bridge near Williamsville where he said they dumped the body in the river.
 
From March 2016:

http://www.semissourian.com/story/2287888.html

Russell Dale Mayberry, 31, appeared before Associate Circuit Judge Randy Schuller on Friday for a preliminary hearing on charges of first-degree murder, armed criminal action, abandonment of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence, all felonies...

After hearing the testimony and evidence Friday, the Wayne County judge reportedly found probable cause to order Mayberry to stand trial on the charges.

From April:

http://www.semissourian.com/story/2294834.html

The venue for the murder case against Russell D. Mayberry, 33, of Zalma, Missouri, has been changed to Cape Girardeau County from Wayne County, Missouri.
 
Zalma man pleads guilty to murder charge
A Zalma man has pleaded guilty to a murder charge in connection to the January 2015 death of Kenny Willard.

(...)

Roger Mayberry faces charges of hindering prosecution and tampering with physical evidence. He's set to go to trial on Feb. 9.

Russell Mayberry will be sentenced on Feb. 21.
 
Judge sentences Zalma man to 12 years in prison for second-degree murder

http://www.semissourian.com/story/2393154.html

Circuit Judge Michael Gardner sentenced a Zalma, Missouri, man to 12 years in prison Thursday for second-degree murder, adding he was “reluctantly” accepting a plea agreement.

Gardner sentenced Russell Mayberry in circuit court in Jackson. Mayberry, 32, agreed to a deal with Bollinger County, Missouri, Prosecuting Attorney Heath Robins.

“This is a terrible case, a terrible tragedy,” the judge told Mayberry. “It is terrible what you did.”

Gardner added, “This is not what you deserved.”

As part of the plea deal, a Wayne County charge of abandonment of a corpse and Bollinger County charges of hindering the prosecution of a felony and tampering with physical evidence were dismissed against Russell Mayberry’s father, Roger Mayberry, 61, of Zalma.

Although unrelated to the charges against Russell Mayberry, a possession-of-a-controlled-substance charge against his wife, Brandi L. Mayberry, 33, of Zalma also was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

Defense attorney Jacob Zimmerman told the judge Thursday he believes his client would have been acquitted of the murder charge had the case gone to trial.

After the sentencing, Zimmerman said the prosecution had “very little evidence of murder.” But he said the state had evidence on charges of tampering with evidence and improper disposal of a corpse.

Russell Mayberry would have faced an eight-year prison sentence if the case had gone to trial and he was convicted on those two charges, Zimmerman said.

The plea agreement kept Russell Mayberry’s elderly father from facing possible felony convictions for aiding his son, Zimmerman said.

“In essence, Mr. Mayberry was taking one for his dad,” Zimmerman said after the sentencing.
 

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