Kansas City Crime Scene: Domestic Tragedy, Youngster Shot & Homicide Trends

Lots to catch up on here . . . 

Sadly, it seems that tragic domestic is the theme of this post. 

However, on a more optimistic front . . . 

 This week there was a slow down on local murders and, thankfully, we haven't yet cracked 50. Still about 15% ahead of peace for this year but one less homicide at a time is the tough road to progress.

And so, right now we take a peek at court cases, ALLEGED misdeeds and just a few nicer notes toward the end of the compilation.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Man to spend rest of life in prison for fatally stabbing wife in 2018

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - A man will spend the rest of his life in prison after he stabbed his wife Tabitha to death in Kansas City, Missouri, in 2018. The Jackson County Prosecutor's Office said Thursday that Gene Birdsong has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 17 years.

Human remains identified as Kansas City woman, missing since 2017

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Human remains discovered in February have been identified as those of a 29-year-old Kansas City woman, who hasn't been seen since April of 2017. Kansas City police say Jamie Toliver was last seen April 14, 2017. Her remains were located on February 19, 2023 in the area of Gladstone Boulevard and North Belmont Boulevard.

Brothers charged with murder in shooting at Kansas City apartment complex near Swope Park

Two brothers are accused of murder in an early April shooting at an apartment complex in Kansas City's East Swope Highlands neighborhood. Jackson County prosecutors have charged Darren Randall, 29, of Kansas City, and David Randall, 31, of Raytown, with second-degree murder and armed criminal action.

Kansas City teenager shot after going to wrong house

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A teenager is recovering after being shot outside a Northland home Thursday evening. Police believe it was a case of mistaken identity. Officers responded to a home near Northeast Cookingham Drive and North Tracy Avenue around 10 p.m. and found the injured teenager suffering from life-threatening injuries.

Feds bust conspiracy using drones to drop contraband to inmates at federal prison

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Six people have been indicted for their role in a conspiracy to use a drone to drop contraband to inmates housed at federal Leavenworth Penitentiary. Federal grand jurors made the indictment on April 5 against inmates Dale Gaver III and Melvin Edwards as well as four others, including Rex Hill, Dale Gaver II, Joshua Hamilton and Tamarae Hollman.

KCPD suspect 'foul play' in disappearance of 34-year-old woman

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City, Missouri, police are seeking the public's help in locating a missing 34-year-old woman. Mallory Rogers was last seen around midnight on March 27 near East 11th Street and Grand Boulevard downtown. "There is a strong indication of foul play, and the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department is concerned for her well-being," according to a KCPD news release.

Kansas City PD issues citations, tows cars at illegal sideshow

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Police are taking a new approach to try to curb dangerous and illegal sideshows across the city. The Kansas City Police Department said more than a dozen of its officers worked an operation Sunday night to break up an illegal sideshow at Concord Fortress of Hope Church near East 107th Street and West Longview Parkway near Longview Lake.

Ex-Kansas police officer pleads guilty to string of sex crimes, assaulting 10 females

A former Kansas cop has pleaded guilty to a string of sex crimes in which he sexually assaulted 10 females while posing as an on-duty officer over a seven-year span. Todd W. Allen, who was employed with the Hutchinson Police Department for more than 25 years, pleaded guilty on Monday to 12 felony sex crime charges and five breach of privacy charges in Reno County District Court.

Why Jackson County prosecutors won't initially look at race when deciding whether to file cases

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Stalker took off ankle monitor & killed KS woman. Did Johnson County fail to protect her?

During the early hours of July 5, 2020, 42-year-old Jessica Smith was murdered in her Olathe home. The assaillant - 45-year-old Clyde Barnes Jr., who had previously been in a relationship with Smith - took off his ankle monitor before entering the residence and killing her with a pickaxe or sharp tool.

Sheriff renews call for information on man who went missing from Blue Springs in 2020

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is asking for help finding a man who hasn't been seen since June 2020.Authorities shared a new missing persons flier for Skylar Ware, who was 26 years old at the time of his disappearance.At the time, law enforcement said foul play was suspected in the Blue Springs, Missouri, area sometime in early to mid-June.

'A beautiful, caring person': Abbi Schaeffer's family keeping her memory alive while searching for answers

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - In the days after Abbi Schaeffer's remains were found in a ditch in south Kansas City, her loved ones got to work on cleaning the area up. The area was full of trash, as it's often used for dumping, but her family says it's no place for someone who was as beautiful as Schaeffer.

Body pulled from Kansas River identified as missing Kansas City, Kansas man

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - A sad update to a story FOX4 reported two weeks ago of a missing 29-year-old Kansas City, Kansas man. KCK police say the body of a man pulled from the Kansas River on Wednesday, April 12, has been identified as Verlon Timms Jr.

1 critically injured in Friday afternoon shooting in KCK

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A shooting Friday afternoon in Kansas City, Kansas, left one person with life-threatening injuries. Police found the victim about 3:30 p.m. at North 13th Street and Washington Boulevard. No word on the sex or age of the victim. No suspect information was available. This is a developing story.

'No wrongdoing'? KCK deserves details about disoriented police officer in viral video | Opinion

We watched the video of a disorientated Kansas City, Kansas, police officer's odd behavior while on duty. We saw what we saw. The officer, who was responding to a call over a child custody dispute in Wyandotte County, appeared to be in bad shape.

The Tragic History Behind Kansas City's Union Station, The 2023 NFL Draft Venue

The National Football League has moved around its draft sites in recent years. From New York City to Chicago, Cleveland and Las Vegas, the league has decided that the draft should be held around the United States and not in one location as it was in the past.

KC police find missing teen who has autism and is non-verbal, carry him home

The Kansas City, Missouri Police Department is highlighting the work of two of its officers. Thursday, police were searching for a 17-year-old boy who has autism and is non-verbal.The teen reportedly walked away from his home barefoot before getting lost in the woods.KCPD officers called to the scene reportedly searched for about half an hour before locating the young.

Green Bay Packer pulled over in central Kansas

GREAT BEND, Kan. (KSNW) - An officer who helped with a Pawnee County traffic enforcement activity on Wednesday was surprised when he found Green Bay Packer Rudy Ford in a vehicle he pulled over. The Great Bend Police Department said both of its K-9 teams were helping with the enforcement activity.

Mental Well-Being Top Of Mind For Dispatcher

He joined peer support groups and invested in Crisis Intervention Training. McAlpin also surveyed his peers to learn what resources they knew, hoping to increase this awareness. He then set up a resource library filled with books and pamphlets - focused on anxiety, financial stress, real-life issues - so that call takers and dispatchers could access help with ease.

Developing . . .