Two weeks ago, FBI investigators from Kansas City got an anonymous tip that someone was holding Rainwater in a cage on some property near Lebanon. Fire crews from multiple stations were working to put out hotspots. James Phelps, 58, is charged alongside. Cassidy Rainwater's remains found on accused kidnappers' property in According to court records, Norton was originally interviewed on Sept. 19 and after his interview, officers determined he had provided information that was not accurate. Missouri men accused of keeping missing woman locked in cage - WREG.com Geo resource failed to load. Nortons attorney has said he intends to plead not guilty. Missouri men James Phels, Timothy Norton charged with murdering Cassidy When investigators searched Phelps' property, court documents say they found Rainwater's remains in a deep freezer in packages labeled 7-24, the last day Rainwater is believed to be alive.. A family member contacted the Dallas County Sheriffs Office saying they had not seen Rainwater or heard from her for an unspecified amount of time. Investigators ruled the blaze an arson and found two. Court records say he also told detectives that on July 24, Phelps contacted him to come to his home to help restrain the victim, which he did. The home accused kidnapper James Phelps was staying atburned to the ground late Mondaynight, and a bomb squad from Springfield was sent to investigate. The Springfield Bomb Squad also received a call to assist at the scene. James Phelps, 58, and . Norton reportedly assisted Phelps in carrying Rainwaters body back inside the residence and into a bathtub. He said that Rainwater had been talking about going to Colorado. Police note that their investigation into Rainwater's murder continues, and asks that anyone who believes they may information concerning this case call the Dallas County Sheriff's Office at 417-345-2441. Inside house of horrors where woman was kept half naked in - The Sun Cassidy was at the property looking for her missing mother. The remarks followed a fire at the home of Mr Phelps in October, with investigators finding tripwires at the property. When police visited Phelps property, they found the same scene from the photographs provided by the FBI, according to an affidavit by Dallas County Sheriffs Department Sergeant Robby Simmons. 18:16 BST 18 Nov 2021. That tip led the FBI to Dallas County, about 160 miles southeast of Kansas City, and launched what became a secretive, weeks-long criminal investigation. No motive has been revealed in connection with Rainwater's brutal killing. Everything was on fire, and we sat there and watched it collapse. 7. . Cassidy Rainwater's remains were recently identified. Investigators searched Phelps' home near Lebanon, Missouri, for seven days and found the gantry crane, cage and items in the freezer that appeared to be 'human flesh,' Rice said. On September 16, investigators received a search warrant for James Phelps' cell phone, and court records say they found seven photos of Cassidy Rainwater partially nude being held in a cage. (TCD) -- Two Missouri men accused of kidnapping Cassidy Rainwater also face murder charges after Rainwaters dismembered remains were found in a freezer and on a nearby property. Because of both the complexity of death penalty cases and full case loads for a small staff, they tend to be more drawn out. According to a statement from the Dallas County Sheriff's Office, Norton allegedly "confessed to the murder of Cassidy Rainwater," who was reported missing on Aug. 25. "Norton told FBI agents that Phelps had him come over while Cassidy was sleeping [on] the living room floor, so he had easy access to attack Cassidy," reads the statement. He told investigators he was an over-the-road trucker and lives in his truck even when he was not actively working, police said. It was not immediately clear if Phelps had an attorney. One of two southwest Missouri men charged in the gruesome killing of a woman who authorities say was kept in a cage entered a plea on Friday. "Norton stated, after entering the house, he held Cassidy's legs down while Phelps strangled her and placed a bag over her head. Rachel Nicholson, who moved to Lebanon recently, said she saw the home go up in flames from a distance. Phelps will be in court in Dallas County on Friday . Phelps is one of two suspects in the Cassidy Rainwater murder case. Remains discovered in an adjacent backyard were also found to be from Ms Rainwater after investigation work in September, as did the FBI find messages between the pair appearing to plan her death. Phelps is due in court this Friday, and Norton will appear on Nov. 23. Investigators determined it to be arson. The Sheriffs Office said Norton told FBI agents that Phelps asked him to come over to his home, and he held Cassidys legs down as "Phelps strangled her and placed a bag over her head" before bounding Rainwater to the gantry crane where they started the "evisceration and dismemberment of Cassidys body.". Missing NC woman found dead in woods, police begin homicide investigation Someone reported her missing on Aug. 25. Authorities arrested Phelps and then found the slew of evidence on his property that was revealed by the sheriffs office on Wednesday. See Kelce Jam, One person killed, four others injured in crash in Kansas City, Kansas, Jury finds father guilty in 2017 fatal shooting of his childrens mother in Kansas City, Two charged for allegedly stealing NFL jerseys designated for top picks at NFL Draft, Woman found dead in Kansas City apartment on Saturday after caller alerted police, Three men killed in two shootings thought by police to be connected, KCPD says, In fatally shooting man in moving car, KCK cops used tactic discouraged by experts. Prior to the request, a preliminary hearing in Phelps case was scheduled for Nov. 5. Authorities searched the area to figure out how the fire started and if there could be more tripwires than one spotted near the home. DNA tests positively identified human remains found in a freezer at a Missouri home as missing woman Cassidy Rainwater; Rainwater, 33, was last seen on July 24 at James Phelps' home, but she was . Man Accused of Killing, Dismembering a Mother of 2 Who'd Recently Moved in with Him. Norton confessed to the murder of Cassidy Rainwater. After receiving the information from the FBI, deputies went back out to Moon Valley Road and recognized items in Phelps backyard that coincided with the photos.. Per court documents, investigators say Norton admitted that Phelps asked him to help kill Rainwater while she was staying at Phelps home. Whether its a short vacation or theyre jetting off to begin their career, show the future traveler you care with a meaningful graduation gift. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Two men charged in September with felony kidnapping have now been charged with murder in the missing persons case of Cassidy Rainwater, a Missouri woman who appeared caged and partially nude in photos sent to the FBI. Attorneys filed a motion to request a change in the criminal case of James Phelps, one of two men accused in the kidnapping of Cassidy Rainwater. "Phelps stated he had not seen Cassidy since.". The next day, Timothy Norton was booked into the Dallas County Jail without bond. The new charges included first-degree murder and abandonment of a corpse after DNA tests returned to the Dallas County Sheriffs Office confirmed the death of Rainwater. In another strange development, on Oct. 4, a fire started at Phelps property where Rainwaters remains were found burned the house to the ground. The defendants' attorneys could not be reached for comment. Deputies went to Phelps home at 386 Moon Valley Road near Windyville and asked if he knew Rainwater. The investigation remains ongoing. Our team of reporters stayed in constant contact with Dallas County Sheriff Scott Rice for updates in the disappearance of Rainwater. We could feel the heat, said Nicholson. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. James Phelps and Timothy L. Norton have been charged with kidnapping 33-year-old Cassidy Rainwater who was reported missing on July 24. Investigators say they dismembered her body in a bathtub. Norton then admitted that after arriving at Phelps home he did physically confine CR by holding her down for a substantial period of time, for the purpose of facilitating the commission of a felony, or inflicting physical injury on, or terrorizing CR, the document said. Cassidy Rainwater (Dallas County Sheriff's Department) Details about the death of a 33-year-old woman whose remains were discovered in a freezer have been revealed, a month after authorities. The Law Did Not Treat Them Kindly. Police have also divulged new information about hundreds of other pieces of evidence recovered in the case, providing disturbing new details about Rainwaters final moments that come as a gut-punch to many who feared the worst from the very beginning. Laura Bauer came to The Star in 2005 after spending much of her life in southwest Missouri. The Springfield 3. Terry told authorities that the last time Rainwater was seen was about six weeks earlier and she believed that a James Rainwater was the last person to see her. The FBI passed along information Thursday that led to the arrest of James Phelps, 58, at a. Phelps entered an Alford plea, a type of guilty plea in which a defendant maintains their innocence but acknowledges prosecutors have sufficient evidence for a conviction. 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Cassidy Rainwater (Dallas County Sheriff's Office) Some of Rainwater's remains were found in an adjacent property and in a freezer with "7-24" written on them, authorities said. Police have not yet given a motive for the grisly crime, but they say Phelps and Norton planned it in advance. They allegedly recovered messages between Phelps and Norton planning Rainwaters murder on Jul. A judge approved the request one day later, per court records. He wrote: While I understand the impatience and curiosity of the people, Im going to give you a piece of advice. Court records say Phelps had seven photos of Rainwater on his cellphone that showed her partially nude body inside the cage in the small, rundown home where he was living. On Sept. 16, investigators received a search warrant for James Phelps' cell phone, and court records say they found seven photos of Cassidy Rainwater partially nude being held in a cage on his . The home Phelps rented on Moon Valley Road in Dallas County was burned to the ground in the late-evening hours. TIMELINE: The death and disappearance of Cassidy Rainwater in Dallas County, Mo. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Phelps is scheduled to be back in court May 19, while Norton is scheduled to be back in court May 2. I dont understand what makes people get like that, says Williams. Investigators found seven photos of Cassidy Rainwater partially nude while being held in a cage on James Phelps' property in Lebanon. Phelps and Norton were arrested in September 2021 after authorities say they obtained photos of Rainwater in a cage on Phelps property, as well as photos of Rainwater being dismembered and eviscerated. They had previously been charged with kidnapping. He said that Cassidy had been staying with him until she could get back on her feet, court records say. She would stop by, and she would talk to us when we were outside working. In her 25-year career, Lauras stories on child welfare, human trafficking, crime and Kansas secrecy have been nationally recognized. Court documents reveal that beyond showing Rainwater in a cage, additional photos the FBI had shared with county detectives in September showed Rainwaters body bound to a gantry crane device (commonly used for processing wild game), and depicted her evisceration and dismemberment. Authorities had also found what were confirmed by lab testing to be Rainwaters remains packaged in a freezer and dated 7-24, court documents said, and had discovered skeletal remains on the property that they believe to be Rainwaters, as well. Police say items from the freezer that appeared to be human flesh have been positively identified as Rainwaters remains, and skeletal remains belonging to her were also uncovered. She says that she moved to Dallas County to get away from violence in Kansas City. The packages in the freezer containing her remains were labeled 7-24. Rainwater was last seen at some point in late July; a family member who officially reported her missing on Aug. 25 said she had last been seen about six weeks prior. Authorities say remains found at the southwest Missouri home were those of a missing woman, 33-year-old Cassidy Rainwater. James D. Phelps entered an Alford plea for a charge of first-degree murder in a Dallas County court today, April 28. Some of the woman's body parts were later found in a freezer, he said. Cassidy Rainwater's remains were found labeled "7-24" in a freezer. She said she cant wrap her head around all of this. Cassidy Rainwater was last seen in mid-July. When investigators searched Phelps property, court documents say they found Rainwaters remains in a deep freezer in packages labeled 7-24, the last day Rainwater is believed to be alive. Some skeletal remains believed to be Rainwater were located on the adjacent property, authorities said. man accused of kidnapping Cassidy Rainwater burns to the ground, PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Two accused of kidnapping Cassidy Rainwater appear in Dallas County court, PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Neighbor speaks on fire and Dallas Co. investigation of Cassidy Rainwater, PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Dallas County sheriff addresses rumors in disappearance case of Cassidy Rainwater, PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Investigators found incendiary device during fire at home at center of kidnapping case in Dallas County, PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Missouri State Fire Marshal rules fire at home of kidnapping in Dallas County as arson, PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Attorneys for James Phelps request new judge in kidnapping case of Cassidy Rainwater, PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Dallas County sheriff confirms remains found on James Phelps property as Cassidy Rainwater, PREVIOUS COVERAGE: A closer look at the relationship between James Phelps and Timothy Norton, EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Dallas County sheriff explains whats next in case of Cassidy Rainwater. She asked us to conceal her identity for her protection. On Sept. 16, the FBI received an anonymous tip about photos that appeared to depict a partially clothed Rainwater confined to a cage.
Phelps and Norton were seen as suspects from the get-go, and the case took a bizarre turn in October, when the Ozarks home at the center of the investigation burned to the ground and authorities found tripwire and a live incendiary device on the property. During the investigation, detectives identified Timothy Norton as being connected to the case. Other photos allegedly showed "Cassidy's body bound to a gantry crane, commonly used for deer processing, and her evisceration and dismemberment. One of the two men charged in the Dallas County kidnapping and death of Cassidy Rainwater entered an Alford plea on Friday and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Phelps will appear in court Friday. (KY3) - One of two men accused of kidnapping and killing Cassidy Rainwater in Dallas County entered an Alford plea for first-degree murder. James David Phelps, 58, told investigators that he was helping the 33-year-old woman "get back on her feet" and that she had been living in the loft area of his cabin at 386 Moon Valley Road. Phelps' co-defendant, Timothy Norton, faces the same charges. At a nearby property, the Sheriffs Office said uncovered skeletal remains were believed to be Rainwaters. Investigators found them. An amended criminal complaint shows the two men each still face a kidnapping charge as well as a felony count of abandonment of a corpse, saying they knowingly disposed of the corpse of Cassidy Rainwater at or near Phelps property without notifying authorities. Upon further investigation, digital messages were reportedly found revealing Phelps' and Timothy Nortons plans to murder Rainwater. 2 killed, 4 wounded in Mississippi shooting; man arrested, 150 years later, Dixon bridge tragedy among nation's worst, Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy says he wants to 'shut down the FBI' and replace it with something that sounds a lot like the FBI, Sanders: Biden could win in a landslide, Sunny Hostin Responded To Meghan McCain's Recent Scathing Criticism Of "The View" And Thinks She'd Be Great For "Housewives", Possible tornado damage in Fort Hood, Texas, Colts chart new QB path with 1st-round pick Richardson.