Two people were treated for minor injuries in Nodaway County after a crash Friday evening just east of Maryville.

Nodaway County Sheriff Darren White said around 7:21 p.m. the office got a 911 call reporting an airplane crash.

“The caller said that a small plane had struck power lines while attempting to land at Rankin Airport which is located just east of Maryville. Witnesses on the ground said that… after the aircraft struck the power lines it spun completely around and tumbled end over end before coming to rest upright in a corn field,” White said. “When emergency personnel arrived, the pilot and his passenger had exited the aircraft on their own. They were taken to awaiting ambulances and then transported to St Francis Hospital in Maryville. Both persons suffered minor injuries and were treated and released.”

White said the investigation has been temporarily delayed until the power lines are repaired.

The Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by The Missouri State Highway Patrol, Maryville Department of Public Safety Police and Fire Divisions, Nodaway County Ambulance, MoDOT, United Electric Cooperative and The Federal Aviation Administration.

(Update 4:30 p.m.) – Two people were taken to the hospital Friday after a crash on I-29 in St. Joseph.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Thomas Kleese, 51 of  Wisconsin was driving a 2011 Volks Tiguan and Freida Ashford, 79 of St. Joseph was driving a 2008 Ford Escape both northbound on I-29 around 1:30 p.m.  The crash report said Kleese slowed for traffic and his vehicle was hit from behind by Ashford’s vehicle causing Ashford ‘s vehicle to rollover at the 47 mile marker in St. Joseph.

Ashford was transported to Mosaic Life Care for treatment of what was described as moderate injuries.  Kleese was also transported to Mosaic Life care for treatment of minor injuries.

Traffic was backed up for miles while emergency crews were on scene.

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(2 p.m.) – A crash has tied up traffic on northbound I-29 in St. Joseph.

Our own Rob Horning reported shortly before 2 p.m. that traffic is backed up for miles on I-29 due to a crash located just underneath the Faraon overpass. He said emergency crews are on scene at the right lane is blocked off to northbound traffic in the area.

As we learn more we will update.

A man sought as a person-of-interest in connection with the shooting of two St. Joseph residents has been arrested in Jackson County, Mo.

The St. Joseph Police Department said 32-year-old Owen Lee Roberts is currently being held in the Jackson County Jail on unrelated charges. An arrest warrant for second-degree assault out of Buchanan County was issued last month for Roberts.

As we previously reported, Roberts was wanted in connection with the May 15th shooting of two St. Joseph residents in the area of 924 Prospect Ave. Capt. Jeff Wilson with the St. Joseph Police Department said Ricky Snedden and Terry Lee Madewell sustained serious injuries from the incident but both survived the assault.

Bail has been set at $100,000 cash only.

More than 60 fans were donated to three St. Joseph agencies Tuesday in an effort to help those in need stay safe and cool this summer.

Kansas City Power & Light is partnering with agencies across its service area to distribute the fans for free based on agency policies.

“For the North District, which is basically St. Joe and up to the Iowa border and over to the Trenton area we’re distributing about 125 fans but overall over the whole company we’re distributing closer to 500 fans,” said Dan Hegeman, KCP&L District Community Affairs Manager.

He said 65 fans were distributed Tuesday among three agencies to cover a large portion of St. Joseph.  Fans were dropped off at Grace House located at 2638 Lafayette, AFL-CIO Community Services located at 1203 N. 6th St. and InterServ Wesley Center located at 200 Cherokee St.

Dave Howery is the Ex. Director for InterServ and said the fans will help the agency provide heat relief for families in need.

“There’s a distribution person who would help with that,” Howery said.

Howery said looking out for community members doesn’t stop at fan distributions.  He said InterServ’s facilities serve as cooling centers and when volunteer go out to distribute meals through the organization’s mobile meals program they are also keeping an eye out.

“When people go into the home for home delivered meals they’re also assessing as well.  What’s the environment like, what’s the safety factors like, and what’s the communication with that client who made need that,” Howery said. “And then we do economic assistance that helps with utilities, especially utilities to keep people in their homes and provide relief.”

For information on the fans contact each organization to find out details on distribution policies.

(Update 2 p.m. – News Release) – A Platte County grand jury has indicted an Edgerton man for murdering his sister, three-month-old nephew, and grandparents, and then allegedly burning down the home where they lived together.

Grayden L. Denham, 24, has been in custody since February 21, when he was located in Arizona in a car authorities allege he stole from the scene of the other crimes.

Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said the grand jury returned the indictment on June 24. The indictment alleges Denham shot his sister, Heather Ager, 32, his three-month-old nephew Mason Schiavoni, his grandmother, Shirley Denham, 81, and his grandfather, Russell Denham, 82.

Their bodies were found burned outside their residence on Buena Vista Road in Edgerton. The home at that address had been burned, and a dog had also been shot and burned.

According to Platte County Sheriff Mark Owen, Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to a structure fire at 4170 Buena Vista Road, in Edgerton, on February 20. When deputies arrived, the home was fully engulfed in flames.

Deputies saw three bodies in the front yard, two adults and one infant. A dog was also dead in the yard. All of the bodies had been burned.

A male body was found by an out building east of the home. The body was lying on its back and also badly burned.

Investigators later determined that the four victims and dog had all been shot.

They also discovered that one vehicle, a brown 2012 Nissan Versa with handicapped license plates, was missing from the residence.

Investigators determined from relatives and neighbors that Denham was not allowed to drive the Nissan Versa or any of the other vehicles from that location because his driver’s license had been suspended.

Denham was located in Arizona along with the 2012 Nissan Versa. The Nissan Versa’s Missouri license plates had allegedly been removed and replaced with stolen Oklahoma license plates.

Denham is charged with four counts of first degree murder, which carry a minimum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Prosecutors could also seek the death penalty against Denham. Zahnd said he would review the case to determine whether the State would seek the death penalty.

Denham is also charged with:

• Four counts of armed criminal action, which carry a mandatory minimum sentence of three years in prison.
• Animal abuse, a misdemeanor, for killing the dog.

• Second degree arson, which is punishable by up to seven years in prison.

• Tampering with physical evidence, punishable by up to four years in prison.

• Stealing a motor vehicle, punishable by up to seven years in prison.

Judge James Van Amburg set bond in the case at $4 million cash only.

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(11 a.m.) – Additional charges including murder have been filed against an Edgerton man who was found in Arizona following the death of four of his family members.

Grayden Denham, 24 is now charged in Platte County with four felony counts of first-degree murder, four felony counts of armed criminal action, felonies for second-degree arson and tampering with physical evidence and a misdemeanor for animal abuse.  Denham was previously charged with a felony for stealing a motor vehicle.

As we previously reported, on February 20, Russell and Shirley Denham were found dead at their home in Edgerton.  Their granddaughter Heather Ager, 32, and her three-month-old son Mason Schiavoni, were also found dead.  A fire had completely destroyed a home on the property, and all of the victims’ bodies had been burned.  A dog was also found dead in the yard.

According to court documents, Grayden Denham, who normally stayed at the residence, was not located there.  Grayden Denham allegedly stole a 2012 brown Nissan Versa, which was owned by Russell and Shirley Denham.

Grayden Denham was located in Arizona on February 21 along with the 2012 Nissan Versa.  The Nissan Versa’s Missouri license plates had allegedly been removed and replaced with stolen Oklahoma license plates.

Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd and Sheriff Mark Owen plan to hold a press conference Monday afternoon to talk about recent developments in the quadruple homicide investigation.

As we learn more we will update this story.

(Update 12:30 p.m.) – More than 200 pounds of marijuana has been seized by the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force.

Col. Bill Puett with the Sheriff’s Department said the Strike Force made the large drug bust Friday afternoon.  He said the marijuana was being shipped to a local freight company.

“It went to a local shipping freight company and they were able to seize it there,” Puett said. “Investigators were able to seize approximately 203 pounds of packaged marijuana that came in.”

He said at this time no arrests have been made.

“Members of the DSF have been conducting ongoing interdiction operations at a variety of locations in an effort to disrupt the flow of illegal drugs in our community,” Puett said. “Information might be that they’re being shipped by vehicle, they’re targeting some of the shipping routes and some of the ways that drugs are being shipped into the community.”

Puett said the investigation is ongoing.

“From what we’re understanding obviously some of it could have been local and it could have been distributed in other areas but once again those are ongoing investigative issues and the investigators are still working on that so I’m pretty limited on what we can really comment on,” Puett said.

Update (2:38 p.m.) – Federal authorities have identified a person of interest believed to be tied to bank robberies in two states including one earlier this week in Dearborn.

A federal arrest warrant has been issued for Jesse Bud Leaverton for the bank robbery on June 10 at the Arvest Bank in Tulsa, Okla.

The FBI said it believes multiple bank robberies from Oklahoma and Missouri are related.  Saturday, the Arvest bank was robbed in Tulsa, Okla., then Monday the Platte Valley Bank was robbed in Dearborn and Thursday the Bank of America was robbed in Tulsa and Friday the Security State Bank was robbed in Fairfax, Okal.

The suspect in all three robberies is described as a white man in his mid-50s with tattoos on both arms and a tattoo on the right arm possibly an image of a woman’s face.  The FBI said in all three robberies the suspect entered the bank, approached the teller and showed a demand note and threatened the use of a weapon.  Each time the suspect has fled the bank on foot.

Anyone with information about any of the robberies is asked to call the TIPS Hotline in Oklahoma City at 918-596-COPS or in Kansas City at 816-474-TIPS.