A candlelight vigil and balloon release is planned this weekend for Lucas Webb, the four-year-old boy from Holt who died Monday.

The vigil and balloon release is planned for Sunday night between Holt and Kearney at the Jesse James Park.

Organizers of a Facebook page in the his honor, posted the details Friday afternoon.  Those attending are asked to bring candles and balloons.

The vigil starts at 7:00 p.m. Sunday night.  The Jesse James Park is located off Highway 33 between Holt and Kearney.

Lucas was found unresponsive Monday after his step mother called 911.  He was pronounced dead later at the hospital.  His father, 34-year-old Justin Webb, and step-mother, 32-year-old Melissa Webb, were both charged with 2nd Degree Murder and a Class B felony Child Abuse charge.

Both are expected to appear in court later this month.

 

 

St Joseph Police have released surveillance photography from a payday loan store robbery Wednesday. Authorities say a Hispanic male entered Advance America in the 1400 block of North Belt shortly after 5:30 a.m. and demanded money.

He did not display a weapon. Nobody was injured.

The suspect is described as a Hispanice male, 5’9″ with a tattoo on his left calf. He was wearing black shorts, black shoes, a black ball cap, and a dark jacket.

If you have information that could help investigators call police, or the TIPS hotline at 238-TIPS.

Additional Charges were filed against the Holt Missouri couple charged in the death of a four-year-old boy.

The Missouri Highway Patrol says 34-year-old Justin Webb and 32-year-old Melissa Webb were charged Thursday with Class B Felony Child Abuse.

Justin is the father of four-year-old Lucas Webb who was pronounced dead at a hospital Monday.  Melissa is the child’s stepmother. She allegedly called 911 Monday afternoon. Emergency personnel found the child unresponsive.

An investigation by the major case squad found the child was killed by blunt force trauma. An autopsy found the child had broken ribs for at least six weeks before his death. The two were arrested Wednesday and charged with murder Thursday morning.

The two charged remain in jail on a $500,000 bond each.  They will appear in court later this month.

 

The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office has announced a party for Chief Deputy Jim Lightner who is retiring after 26 years as a law enforcement officer. The party is scheduled Saturday, October 20, at 7pm at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Polk & Easton Streets, in Chillicothe.

Sheriff Steve Cox says during his 26-year career, Mr Lightner has “helped many people, made many friends, crossed the paths of some well known criminals, and given all of us many smiles and laughs.”

You are invited to stop by or join us in wishing Jim the best.

A false call to dispatchers sent multiple police officers to the North Belt Walmart this afternoon. The initial call indicated there was an armed robbery with shots fired and a hostage taken. But it wasn’t true.

Police took no chances, and established a perimeter around the WalMart store.

Troopers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol were also dispatched.

Captain Matt Rock of the St Joseph Police Department says they take calls of this nature seriously, despite the fact that sometimes the details range toward the ridiculous.

“We cannot write this kind of thing off as absurd or even a prank call, until we’re sure,” Rock said.

Officers were stationed at locations around the store, which is located at 4201 North Belt Highway. Within a few minutes authorities confirmed there was no incident in the store.

It appears a woman with mental health issues called the Sheriff’s office, which forwarded the call to the Communications Center. That led to some confusion, as authorities have technology to track the source of calls to 9-1-1. It appeared the call was coming from downtown.

Dispatchers received the call at about 2:25 p.m.

At least one command officer heading to the scene recognized the improbability of an armed robbery in the meat department with a hostage taken and one shot fired, but no panic in the crowded retail establishment. But Rock says they have to take the call seriously.

Voters in Saint Joseph will get a final reminder at the polls election day that there’s an editing mistake on the ballot. City Manager Bruce Woody says small signs will correct the wording on the city’s proposed use tax. Woody says the mistake was clerical error that nobody caught before the ballots were printed. To avoid any risk of confusion the city took the issue to court for a ruling, and the court recommended posting a printed clarification.

Livingston County authorities have a new tool to positively identify suspects booked into their county jail. The sheriff’s office recently received a grant through the Missouri Sheriff’s Association for an Iris Scan system.

The device takes a photo of the person’s eye and uses 240 points in the eye to digitally create a profile. This information is placed in and compared to a data base and provides an instant response.

Sheriff Steve Cox says the technology is harmless, quick, and more accurate then finger prints. Iris Scans have been used by the military, various federal agencies including immigration, and other law enforcement agencies in the United States and foreign countries.

The Missouri Sheriffs Association has been a leader in working with the state and federal government for grants to provide the Iris Scan equipment and training to many Missouri Sheriffs. The Iris Scan equipment is valued at over $17,000.

Cox says his corrections officers will use the iris scanner when a new detainee is booked into jail as they are processed. They are also digitally finger printed through Live Scan system, and DNA is collected under some circumstances. All detainees being released from custody go through the Iris Scan prior to release. This information is kept in a centralized system which we are connected via the Internet.

Cox says his fellow sheriffs have reported discovering several citizens and/or illegal immigrants having provided false information upon arrest on who they really where. Once the Iris Scan was applied the agency immediately identified the problem.

He says the technology will be very helpful with enhancing community safety, and plans to share it with other law enforcement agencies as well.

The father and step mother of a four-year-old Holt Missouri child were charged with 2^nd degree murder Thursday.

34-year-old father Justin Webb and 32-year-old step-mother Melissa Webb were arrested Wednesday after the Northwest Missouri Major Case Squad investigated the death of four-year-old Lucas Webb.

The step mother alleged called 911 Monday afternoon. Emergency workers on the scene found the four-year-old unresponsive.  The child was pronounced dead at an area hospital.

Clinton County Sheriff Porter Hensen activated the major case squad to investigate.

The investigation concluded the child was killed by blunt force trauma, Highway Patrol Sargeant Sheldon Lyon said.

More charges could be filed, according to Lyon. Much more information was held as the investigation continues.

Police would not say if the couple had a history of domestic violence or if or how many siblings the child had.

Just in time for winter, your gas bill could soon be going up. Missouri Gas Energy is seeking a winter rate increase that would cost the average residential customer $5.25 more per month.

The company filed the request with the Public Service Commission.

If the request is approved, the increase will take effect Nov. 1.

MGE spokesman Jason Fulp says the rates reflect the cost MGE and other distribution companies pay to buy gas, plus transportation and storage expenses.

So far this year, natural gas prices have seen their lowest levels in decades, but some experts expect them to rebound this year.

MGE, based in Kansas City, has about 500,000 customers in 155 western Missouri communities.