We could feel the heat, said Nicholson. 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. Rachel Nicholson, who moved to Lebanon recently, said she saw the home go up in flames from a distance. She was reported missing in late August 2021 by a woman named Cora Terry. Per court records, James Phelps told police the last time he saw Cassidy was on this day. Both Phelps and Norton appeared via a video conference call from the Dallas County Jail. The 50 Worst Decisions in Music History A van was found on the property that is similar to the van linked to the 3 missing women from 1992. However, if anyone has new information concerning the case of her death or disappearance, they are encouraged to contact the Dallas County Sheriffs Office at 417-345-2441. The Sheriffs Office said in a news release that a crime lab confirmed the remains recovered from the freezer were Rainwaters. The RENPHO Foot Massager Machine may be just the gift to make Mothers Day extra special for your mom this year. The home in Missouri where a man is accused of holding missing woman Cassidy Rainwater captive in a cage has burned down as he waits for trial in jail. Nortons attorney has said he intends to plead not guilty. 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. To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com. 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. The mystery surrounding the fate of a Missouri woman who vanished over the summer has finally been solvedbut the details about what really happened to Cassidy Rainwater are more ghastly than anyone could have imagined. 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. James Phelps, 58, and Timothy Norton, 56, have been charged with the kidnapping of Cassidy Rainwater. James Phelps and Timothy Norton appeared in court Tuesday. Ive been incredibly unsettled since the whole Menagerie started, she said. Police have not yet given a motive for the grisly crime, but they say Phelps and Norton planned it in advance. Phelps and Norton were arrested back in September of 2021 after authorities say they obtained photos of Rainwater in a cage on Phelps property. Sheriff Rice said Phelps were classmates in school and friends for several decades. Investigators ruled the fire as undetermined and criminal. James Phelps, one of two kidnapping suspects charged in the disappearance of Cassidy Rainwater, had previously rented the home. A report, first obtained by local news outlet Ozarks First from the Springfield Fire Department showed the bomb squad had been called in and found an incendiary device in a mortar tube with an attached trip wire. A representative for the states Division of Fire Safety, which helped investigate the cause of the fire, said the agency provided its report to authorities but cannot comment on the findings because its part of an investigation. Norton is scheduled to appear in Nov. 23 and Phelps on Nov. 19. Here is the most recent timeline of events in Rainwaters death, disappearance and confirmed information in the investigation: This was the last day anyone, including family members, reported seeing Cassidy Rainwater. Nms is the Arabic word (Greek "") of a concept of an ethical category, a virtue, in Middle Eastern patriarchal character. He told authorities she left in the middle of the night and never came back. During the hearing, prosecutors asked for 45 days until the preliminary hearing due to the number of witnesses needed. There are as many as 23 remains being looked into. Dallas County authorities said James Phelps and Timothy Norton kidnapped Ms Rainwater around the time of her disappearance, allegedly forcing her into a cage. Details about the death of a 33-year-old woman whose remains were discovered in a freezer have been revealed, a month after authorities asked online sleuths to stop speculating about her disappearance. He also told the deputy that at the end of July 2021, Rainwater had left in the middle of the night and met with someone in a vehicle at the end of the driveway and he had not seen or heard from her since. Porter anticipated Phelps' trial would occur in the summer of 2025, which would be four years after Rainwater's death. During the investigation, detectives identified Timothy Norton as being connected to the case. James Phelps and Timothy Norton were arrested in September and charged with the kidnapping of Cassidy Rainwater. That is when the Dallas County Sheriffs Office opened the investigation into her disappearance. Mom Ana Walshe, Charged with Murder, Newlywed Found Decapitated in Her Home, Her Husband of 3 Months Allegedly Confessed to Killing Her, Ex-Boyfriend Accused of Murdering, Dismembering New York Woman and Stuffing Remains in Suitcase, La. Some photos showed the womans body bound to a gantry crane, commonly used for deer processing, and her evisceration and dismemberment, the Dallas County Sheriffs Department posted on its Facebook page back then. Rainwater, 33, was reported missing on Aug. 26, 2021, after having last been seen in mid-July. "Norton stated that Phelps bound her to the gantry crane and Phelps began evisceration and dismemberment of Cassidy's body. The following week, Polk County Judge John C. Porter took on the case. Several hours later, the bomb squad detonated the suspicious device. Cassidy Rainwater Dallas County Sheriff's Office That tip led the FBI to Dallas County, about 160 miles southeast of Kansas City, and launched what became a secretive, weeks-long criminal. Police found some inaccuracies in his story. That home burned to the ground in early October 2021 and authorities ruled it arson. The Springfield bomb squad arrived at the scene and detonated an explosive device near the fire. "Norton stated, after entering the house, he held Cassidy's legs down while Phelps strangled her and placed a bag over her head. The woman recalled Rainwater as being friendly. According to court documents obtained by Fox4, Cassidy Rainwater, 33, was reported missing on August 25, six weeks after she was last seen. Investigators obtained a search warrant for Phelps' cellphone and uncovered pictures of Rainwater partially nude being held in a cage on Phelps' property. DALLAS COUNTY, Mo. On Sept. 16, 2021, the Dallas County Sheriffs Office received intel from the FBI that led them to James Phelps' property in Windyville. Investigators determined it to be arson. The Dallas County Sheriffs Office confirmed with OzarksFirst around 10 p.m., the home caught fire Monday. what really happened to Cassidy Rainwater. On October 4, a fire that investigators have ruled an arson destroyed Phelps' home. In the weeks following the arrest, rumors spread on TikTok that the two men had been butchering humans and storing, even selling, their meat. A trial date had not been set. Dallas County Prosecutor Jonathan Barker said that if he still isnt ready to proceed after 30 days, he would file a motion for more time. The Dallas County Sheriff applied for and received a search warrant for Phelps' phone later that day, WDAF reported, and reportedly found seven pictures . Phelps lawyer has not commented on the previous charges and did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the murder charges. Upon further investigation, digital messages were reportedly found revealing Phelps' and Timothy Nortons plans to murder Rainwater. Murder charges have been filed in Missouri against two men accused of killing and dismembering Cassidy Rainwater. On Sept. 16, investigators received a search warrant for James Phelps' cellphone, and court records say they found seven photos of Cassidy Rainwater partially nude being held in a cage on his property on Moon Valley Road in Lebanon in Dallas County. (KY3) - The Dallas County Sheriffs Office led a months-long investigation into the disappearance and death of Cassidy Rainwater, a case that took national spotlight several weeks after she initially went missing. They had previously been charged with kidnapping. The flesh from the freezer also yielded a DNA match for Rainwater. (KY3) - A man has been arrested in the case of missing woman Cassidy Rainwater. Attorneys for James Phelps and the Dallas County Prosecutor agreed Friday to move Phelps' trial to Jasper County after he made a change of venue request earlier in the year. Rainwater, 33, has been missing since late July, and court documents say investigators. More than a month after their arrests, no additional charges had been filed against Phelps and Norton. The next day, Timothy Norton was booked into the Dallas County Jail without bond. Nobody was hurt from the blaze, but authorities have not reported any arrests in the fire investigation. Murder charges have been filed in Missouri against two men accused of killing and dismembering Cassidy Rainwater . Dallas County Sheriff Scott Rice initially said it could be at least 30 days before any results are returned. 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Due to the nature of the plea, there was no criminal trial. In a Facebook post, Sheriff Rice addressed rumors in the investigation into the disappearance of Cassidy Rainwater. Phelps will appear in court Friday. Rainwater has ties to the Kansas City area. Phelps, 60, is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and abandonment of a corpse in the case of 33-year-old Cassidy Rainwater. Police had found her remains in a freezer in September, and according to reports, in containers that were labelled with the date 7/24, and which later matched DNA for Ms Rainwater. But I also feel like if law enforcement and others will give us information, they wouldnt have to resort to that kind offilling in, says local resident Savannah Williams. 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. KOLR-TV is in contact with local authorities daily, but they are not releasing much information. Those photos, as well as photos of Rainwater strung up on a gantry crane being dismembered and eviscerated, were sent in an anonymous tip to the FBI, according to court documents. In a hearing in Dallas County, James Phelps who was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Cassidy Rainwater entered an Alford plea in the case. The other photos depicted Cassidys body bound to a gantry crane, commonly used for deer processing, and her evisceration and dismemberment.. She would stop by, and she would talk to us when we were outside working. In a September announcement of Phelps arrest, Sheriff Scott Rice had said, Due to the extreme nature of the, In the weeks following the arrest, rumors spread on, trespass, litter, vandalize, harass, or destroy property., In another strange development, on Oct. 4, a, started at Phelps property where Rainwaters remains were found burned the house to the ground. The FBI passed along information Thursday that led to the arrest of James Phelps, 58, at a. James Phelps, 58, is charged alongside. The FBI contacted Dallas County Sheriffs Office saying they had received an anonymous tip that Cassidy Rainwater was caged up on a property rented by Phelps. 24. If these people have committed such horrible crimes as they are accused, I hope the legal system prosecutes them to the fullest extent, said the woman. Phelps was arrested and sent to the Dallas County Jail, where he is currently in custody. 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. Per court records, that is when he admitted details to authorities about restraining Rainwater back in July. Due to the nature of the plea, there was no criminal trial. It was not immediately clear if Phelps had an attorney. 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. He wrote: While I understand the impatience and curiosity of the people, Im going to give you a piece of advice. Sheriff's deputies were contacted in late August by a woman who said Rainwater hadn't been seen for a month and Phelps was the last person she was seen with. 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. 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. An award-winning journalist who has worked forRolling Stone and MTV News, Chris enjoys prog rock, cycling, Marvel movies, IPAs, and roller coasters. According to court documents cited by WDAF-TV, Phelps reportedly provided inconsistent statements during his interviews with detectives. Phelps is scheduled to be back in court May 19, while Norton is scheduled to be back in court May 2. Those items were dated July 24. An . Authorities have said there is no reason to believe that there are other victims associated with Mr Phelps and Mr Norton, and that the investigation is ongoing. Norton is said to have told investigators that Phelps then bound her to the gantry crane and dismembered her. 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. The remarks followed a fire at the home of Mr Phelps in October, with investigators finding tripwires at the property. Norton told FBI agents that Phelps had him come over while Cassidy was sleeping in the living room floor, so he had easy access to attack Cassidy, the sheriffs office said. On the night of Oct. 4, a day before Phelps and Norton were scheduled to appear in court, Phelps' home burned to the ground. According to court documents, investigators recovered more than 200 pieces of evidence at the home and determined that Rainwaters body had been dismembered. A probable cause statement says on September 16th, the FBI office in Kansas City received an. Dallas County land records show that the Rainwater family still owns land that surrounds the unsecured crime scene. In a September announcement of Phelps arrest, Sheriff Scott Rice had said, Due to the extreme nature of the crime and the continuation of the investigation, additional details cannot be released at this time., Editors picks Cassidy Rainwater, 33, was reported missing in late August, having been last seen with someone identified as James Rainwater. Investigators say Rainwater, a 33-year old woman with ties to Dallas, Greene and Laclede counties, disappeared on July 25. He had spoken to a detective previously on Sept. 1, 2021, and reportedly said that Cassidy was staying with him until she could make it on her own and mentioned going to Colorado. A judge initially set a preliminary hearing in both for Nov. 5. In her 25-year career, Lauras stories on child welfare, human trafficking, crime and Kansas secrecy have been nationally recognized. I refuse to do it | Opinion, Clark Hunt says hes surprised Chiefs players griped about facilities. "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. All pre-trial hearings in Phelps' case will still be held in Dallas County, and even at the trial in Jasper County, Dallas County Judge Jill Porter will preside. 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. On Wednesday, the Dallas County Sheriffs Department announced the murder charges. At a nearby property, the Sheriffs Office said uncovered skeletal remains were believed to be Rainwaters. Rainwater was last seen alive in mid-July. She said she cant wrap her head around all of this. The tip the FBI received was titled Cassidy. Phelps and Timothy Norton, both of Dallas County, were charged in September 2021 with kidnapping the 33-year-old woman and facilitating a felony, inflicting injury and terrorizing. He can fix it, Mtley Cre let out their Wild Side rocking NFL Draft stage in Kansas City, NFL executive thanks KC for hosting Draft, says attendance slightly exceeded projection, Photos: Travis Kelce, Machine Gun Kelly, a smashed Super Bowl trophy. against Timothy Norton, 56, and James Phelps, 58, in a statement on Facebook, and court documents reveal new disturbing details of the case. Admonishing true crime fans who were sitting in their apartment or their mommy and daddys basement eating Great Value cheese puffs and drinking box wine, he went on to say that the public should stop hanging on very word is this type of crap. Per court documents, investigators say Norton admitted that Phelps asked him to help kill Rainwater while she was staying at Phelps home. (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. ", According to the statement, police found human flesh inside a freezer at Phelps' home, and that it had been marked with a date: "7/24. The FBI contacted Dallas County Sheriff's Office saying they had received an anonymous tip that Cassidy Rainwater was caged up on a property rented by Phelps. Warner Bros. Entertainment | Officials investigating the fire found two explosive devices made with mortar tubes and balloon covers, with tripwires attached, near the home. The comments below have not been moderated, By The public defenders did not request bond during the hearing. DNA tests returned to Dallas County Sheriff Scott Rice confirmed Rainwaters flesh was found in a freezer. Dallas County Judge Lisa Henderson was initially expected to hear the cases of Phelps and co-defendant Timothy Norton. Prosecutors previously charged Phelps and Norton with kidnapping over the disappearance of Rainwater in mid-September, following an FBI tip that led to their arrests. The bomb squad arrived around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday and shortly after, they detonated an explosive device near the area of the fire. Authorities said Norton told them that he knew that Rainwater was being held at the home of Phelps and that she had been kept in a cage, court records show. 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. Terms of Use | 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. James Phelps and Timothy L. Norton have been charged with kidnapping 33-year-old Cassidy Rainwater who was reported missing on July 24. DALLAS COUNTY, Mo. It was unclear Thursday if either man had gone before a judge to plead to the new murder charge. Privacy Policy | Phelps' co-defendant, Timothy Norton, faces the same charges. Police say the 33-year-olds remains were found in a freezer at the home of one of the men accused of kidnapping her in Windyville, an unincorporated Ozarks community about 160 miles from Kansas City. Chris Harris has been a senior true crime reporter for PEOPLE since late 2015. And some say to the community. DALLAS COUNTY, Mo. 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. It appears that the land has been in the Phelps family for years as multiple people have used that address, according to online court records. 2023 Rolling Stone, LLC. The Ozarks home where 33-year-old Cassidy Rainwater was allegedly kept in captivity burned to the ground after authorities found a tripwire and a "live incendiary device." In the report, investigators claimed they found the explosive device in a mortar tube with a balloon cover, which featured tripwires. A woman whose remains were found in September was kept in a cage before being murdered, eviscerated, and dismembered, according murder charges filed against two Missouri men. TIMELINE: The death and disappearance of Cassidy Rainwater in Dallas County, Mo. Phelps home was later burned to the ground after his arrest. Evidence found in a September search included Rainwater's remains. Meanwhile, investigators returned to the scene of the fire during daylight hours to analyze the area. When police followed up on this tip, they found seven photos on Phelps phone that led to his arrest. Other photos allegedly showed "Cassidy's body bound to a gantry crane, commonly used for deer processing, and her evisceration and dismemberment. Investigators say Norton admitted to holding down Rainwaters legs while Phelps strangled her. Cassidy Rainwater murder suspect gets life in prison. 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. Two men are arrested for 'keeping partially-nude 33-year-old missing woman locked in a cage at their Missouri property' James Phelps and Timothy Norton allegedly restrained Cassidy Rainwater and . New motions filed in James. The next court hearings are currently set for Feb. 8 for Timothy Norton and Feb. 18 for James Phelps. Williams says that a lack of information coming from investigating authorities is leading an entire community to speculate. Her mother's body was found in 2008 in Laclede County. An Alford plea does not admit guilt but acknowledges that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict if the case had gone to trial. The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time 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.. Phelps told police at the time that Rainwater had been staying with him until she could get back on her feet, according to court documents, and that she had talked about going to Colorado before disappearing in the middle of the night about a month earlier. Cassidy Rainwater was last seen in mid-July. Phelps' co-defendant, Timothy Norton, faces the same charges. Man accused in grisly Missouri murder makes surprise decision hours before hearing, Murder charges filed in death of southwest Missouri woman as grisly details revealed, Missing 22-year-old Kansas City man has been found safe: police, Thanks to Missouris voter ID law, Kansas Citians must pay to vote. No motive has been revealed in connection with Rainwater's brutal killing. He noted there is a lot of misinformation circulating in the case. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. Dallas County Sheriff Scott Rice said Wednesday in a Facebook post that the seven photos also showed Rainwater's body on a gantry crane, which is commonly used for deer processing, where she was disemboweled and dismembered before her body was placed in a bathtub. Norton confessed to the murder of Cassidy Rainwater. Kansas City police are asking for help finding 22-year-old Kevontay Watson who is missing. DALLAS COUNTY, Mo. James Phelps . 18:16 BST 18 Nov 2021. KOLR-TV was in the courtroom Tuesday, and a judge set preliminary hearings for both men at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 5. The investigation remains ongoing. Skeletal remains believed to be Rainwaters were located on the adjacent property. According to court documents, on Sept. 16, the Dallas County Sheriffs Office was contacted by an FBI agent in Kansas City about an anonymous tip. James Phelps appeared in court on Nov. 19, just two days after his amended charges. 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. In September of 2021, Phelps was arrested after law enforcement received images that showed Rainwater in a cage and bound to a . The Springfield Bomb Squad also received a call to assist at the scene. Cassidy was reported missing by a family member in August but reports say she was last seen on July 25th. The Missouri State Fire Marshals Office launched an investigation after the fire caused a total loss to the home.
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