James Phelps . what really happened to Cassidy Rainwater. News of the positive identification was accompanied by the release of sickening new details concerning the kidnapping victim's death, including how the 33-year-old woman was strangled to death, strapped to a crane, eviscerated and cut into pieces, according to authorities. 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. "Norton stated that Phelps bound her to the gantry crane and Phelps began evisceration and dismemberment of Cassidy's body. Everything was on fire, and we sat there and watched it collapse. During these upcoming court proceedings, a range of documents and evidence could be presented to the judges, defense and prosecution before the cases head to trial. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Man charged in Cassidy Rainwater death enters plea, sentenced to life, Popular Mobile Games You Must Play In 2023, according to Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute, Murder charges filed, gruesome details released in Cassidy Rainwater case, Man charged in Cassidy Rainwater death enters plea, sentenced to life. More: Murder charges filed, gruesome details released in Cassidy Rainwater case. 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 Phelps and Norton appeared before a Dallas County judge via a webcam over their kidnapping charges, represented by different public defenders. 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. I am very upset by it.. Digital. Investigators say they dismembered her body in a bathtub. Norton is scheduled to appear in court next Tuesday. Federal investigators said no one has seen Cassidy Rainwater since July. 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. Rainwater, 33, was reported missing on Aug. 26, 2021, after having last been seen in mid-July. 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. Breaks Down His Killer White House Correspondents Dinner Set, Pharrells Something in the Water Fest Cancels Final Day Due to Severe Weather, Stagecoach: Kane Brown Breaks Mental Health Stigma With 'Memory,' Talks Depression, Bernie Sanders: Many GOP Leaders 'Don't Even Believe in Democracy'. Per court records, that is when he admitted details to authorities about restraining Rainwater back in July. According to a news release from the Dallas County Sheriffs Office, other photos depicted "Cassidys body bound to a gantry crane, commonly used for deer processing, and her evisceration and dismemberment.". Court documents indicate that when investigators searched Phelps' property, they found Rainwater's remains in a deep-freezer, dated with 7-24, the last day Rainwater is believed to have been alive. TIMELINE: The death and disappearance of Cassidy Rainwater in Dallas County, Mo. How do I keep bugs off my patio this spring? 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. The Springfield Bomb Squad removed the device without any injuries to those handling the device. 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. I refuse to do it | Opinion, Clark Hunt says hes surprised Chiefs players griped about facilities. Cassidy was at the property looking for her missing mother. Upon further investigation, digital messages were reportedly found revealing Phelps' and Timothy Nortons plans to murder Rainwater. (KOLR) Cassidy Rainwater, the woman seen in a dark web photo being held in a cage in a partially nude state, was reported missing in August. James Phelps, 58, and . An award-winning journalist who has worked forRolling Stone and MTV News, Chris enjoys prog rock, cycling, Marvel movies, IPAs, and roller coasters. Rainwater, 33, has been missing since late July, and court documents say investigators. They allegedly recovered messages between Phelps and Norton planning Rainwaters murder on Jul. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. The murder charges were announced on Wednesday. Days after Phelps arrest, Norton confessed to the FBI that he had murdered Rainwater. Other photos allegedly showed "Cassidy's body bound to a gantry crane, commonly used for deer processing, and her evisceration and dismemberment. (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. 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According to court documents, hed told agents Phelps asked him to come over while Rainwater was sleeping. It was not immediately clear if Phelps had an attorney. Dallas County Sheriff's Office Detectives then identified. He told authorities she left in the middle of the night and never came back. A report, first obtained by local news outlet, Murder Charges Filed, Human Remains Found in Missouri Case That Fueled Gruesome TikTok Rumors, It Is Easy for a Person to Disappear: Accused Murderer Suggests Missing Wife Ran Away, E. Jean Carroll Recounts Extremely Painful Rape, Trump Stays Home Shitposting, Too Twee or Not Too Twee: Meet the People Behind the Wes Anderson TikTok Trend, CIA Director, Noam Chomsky Named in Epstein's Private Calendar: Report, Drake, Will Arnett Celebrate Toronto Maple Leafs' (Long-Awaited) Postseason Triumph, Meet the YouTube Creator Busting Crypto Scams, Twitter to Allow Media Publishers to Charge Per Article, Want to Make Cash As a Creator? Meanwhile, investigators returned to the scene of the fire during daylight hours to analyze the area. Williams says that a lack of information coming from investigating authorities is leading an entire community to speculate. The two later carried her dismembered body inside to the bathtub. Two men are charged with her murder after photos showed her evisceration and dismemberment By Andrea Marks November 18,. KOLR-TV was in the courtroom Tuesday, and a judge set preliminary hearings for both men at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 5. Phelps' house later burned to the ground in what investigators determined was arson. I feel like theyre kind of taking the story and running with it and maybe making it hyped up to more than what it really is. Authorities have not shared many updates since confirming the death of Rainwater on Nov. 17. An . 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. All a sudden, the house collapsed and the flames got bigger. 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. It is not a good idea to listen to a crime reporter/blogger or Tik Tok videos. Photos from FBI investigators that were included in court documents on Wednesday also showed her dismembered and semi-naked body that was allegedly strapped into a device. To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com. Porter anticipated Phelps' trial would occur in the summer of 2025, which would be four years after Rainwater's death. It was unclear Thursday if either man had gone before a judge to plead to the new murder charge. 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. Phelps is due in court this Friday, and Norton will appear on Nov. 23. Cassidy Rainwater's remains found on accused kidnappers' property in Missouri, court docs reveal During a search, investigators on the scene of the Moon Valley Road property found the. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. If you want a pest-free patio this spring, the most important thing you can do is take away those elements that bugs find desirable. Norton was arrested on September 20 after speaking to authorities. She said she cant wrap her head around all of this. 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. When police followed up on this. Phelps will be in court in Dallas County on Friday . At one point, a Dallas County deputy found something that resembled a tripwire; thats when the Springfield bomb squad was sent to investigate. Norton is said to have told investigators that Phelps then bound her to the gantry crane and dismembered her. 2023 Telepictures Productions Inc. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Investigators found seven photos of Cassidy Rainwater partially nude while being held in a cage on James Phelps' property in Lebanon. 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. According to court records, attorneys for Norton filed a motion to address his bond and possibly seek a release from jail, though the motion was not approved. Authorities say they have no reason to believe there are any other victims associated with Phelps and Norton at this time.. 16:05 BST 18 Nov 2021 By According to the Sheriffs Office, Norton was interviewed on Sept. 20, and eventually confessed to the murder of Rainwater. Warning: This story contains graphic descriptions of violence. against Timothy Norton, 56, and James Phelps, 58, in a statement on Facebook, and court documents reveal new disturbing details of the case. 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. Laura Bauer came to The Star in 2005 after spending much of her life in southwest Missouri. While on Phelps' property, detectives also found items in the backyard that "coincided with the photos," the Sheriffs Office said. According to additional court documents released in September, KY3 learned that Timothy Norton was called to the house by James Phelps one day earlier for help in restraining Cassidy Rainwater. The 50 Worst Decisions in Music History 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. 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 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. Phelps will appear in court Friday. Cassidy Rainwater's remains found on accused kidnappers' property in Missouri, court docs reveal During a search, investigators on the scene of the Moon Valley Road property found the. Cassidy Rainwater, 33, was reported missing in late August, having been last seen with someone identified as James Rainwater. A probable cause statement says on September 16th, the FBI office in Kansas City received an. Phelps home was later burned to the ground after his arrest. 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. Rainwater, 33, was reported missing on Aug. 26, 2021, after having last been seen in mid-July. 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. Cassidy Rainwater, the missing Missouri woman who was allegedly kidnapped in the Ozarks and kept in a cage, has ties to the Kansas City area. James Phelps, 58, and Timothy Norton, 56, have been . 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. Nobody was hurt from the blaze, but authorities have not reported any arrests in the fire investigation. Deputies searched the property for seven days, according to the Dallas County Sheriffs Department. After she was dead, he said, theyd taken her outside and bound her to the gantry crane, where Phelps began eviscerating and dismembering her. Cassidy Rainwater's remains were recently identified. Murder charges filed, gruesome details released in Cassidy Rainwater case. 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. The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time Messages between Phelps and Norton showed the two men planning the murder of Cassidy Rainwater, police said. 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. 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. Authorities later learned that she was talking about James Phelps. She was reported missing by a relative on August 25th. 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. Rainwater was last seen alive in mid-July. Phelps lawyer has not commented on the previous charges and did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the murder charges. No motive has been revealed in connection with Rainwater's brutal killing. According to court documents, Cassidy Rainwater's remains have been found on a property belonging to two men accused of kidnapping her and keeping her in a cage. Mr Norton will reportedly plead not guilty and appear in court on Friday, after admitting that he strangled Ms Rainwater, according to Fox4. 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. The Sheriffs Office said in a news release that a crime lab confirmed the remains recovered from the freezer were Rainwaters. In her 25-year career, Lauras stories on child welfare, human trafficking, crime and Kansas secrecy have been nationally recognized. 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. Investigators with the Missouri State Fire Marshals Office concluded that an Oct. 4 house fire at the center of a kidnapping case in Dallas County was a result of arson. Privacy Policy | Due to the nature of the plea, there was no criminal trial. DALLAS COUNTY, Mo. Her mother's body was found in 2008 in Laclede County. The new charges come after remains recovered at Phelps property just days after his arrest were positively identified as Rainwaters. The public defenders did not request bond during the hearing. Phelps and Norton were arrested back in September of 2021 after authorities say they obtained photos of Rainwater in a cage on Phelps property. Norton was arrested Sept. 21. Chris Harris has been a senior true crime reporter for PEOPLE since late 2015. Norton confessed to the murder of Cassidy Rainwater. More than a month after their arrests, no additional charges had been filed against Phelps and Norton. In reality, police say, the whole time Phelps claimed he was graciously letting Rainwater stay with him until she got back on her feet, he was actually plotting her murder. Police have now upped the charges against both men to first-degree murder. They allegedly recovered messages between Phelps and Norton planning Rainwaters murder on Jul. 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." Our team of reporters stayed in constant contact with Dallas County Sheriff Scott Rice for updates in the disappearance of Rainwater. 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. The remarks followed a fire at the home of Mr Phelps in October, with investigators finding tripwires at the property. 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. They Refused to Fight for Russia. In partnership with ", After the 33-year-old woman was dead, "he and Phelps took a short break before carrying her body outside," according to the statement. 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. All rights reserved. Preliminary hearings for Phelps and Norton, originally set for the first week of February, have been postponed. On Sept. 16, 2021, the Dallas County Sheriffs Office received intel from the FBI that led them to James Phelps' property in Windyville. 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. A woman who knew Rainwater personally and knows of the suspects spoke with KY3 on the condition of anonymity. 24. Deputies report they found other DNA belonging to Cassidy on an adjacent property belonging to the late Bill Rainwater, Cassidy's grandfather. Literally translated as "virtue", it is now more popularly used in a strong gender-specific context of relations within a family described in terms of honor, attention, respect/respectability, and modesty. Ive been incredibly unsettled since the whole Menagerie started, she said. Investigators obtained a search warrant for Phelps' cellphone and uncovered pictures of Rainwater partially nude being held in a cage on Phelps' property. The men also were charged with abandonment of a corpse. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. The RENPHO Foot Massager Machine may be just the gift to make Mothers Day extra special for your mom this year. Cassidy Rainwater's remains were found labeled "7-24" in a freezer. He told investigators he was an over-the-road trucker and lives in his truck even when he was not actively working, police said. DALLAS COUNTY, Mo. The crime scene was investigated for seven days in mid-September, and according to the Sheriffs Office, investigators collected the gantry device, cage, and "items from the freezer that appeared to be human flesh with a date written on them of 7-24.". A van was found on the property that is similar to the van linked to the 3 missing women from 1992. "Phelps stated he had not seen Cassidy since.". Because of both the complexity of death penalty cases and full case loads for a small staff, they tend to be more drawn out. 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Both remain jailed in Dallas County. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Norton is scheduled to be back in court May 2. Sheriff Scott Rice addressed the misinformation and rumors about the case in another Facebook post on Oct. 7. According to court documents, Phelps told the detective that about a month prior, Cassidy left in the middle of the night and met a vehicle at the end of the driveway in the dark and had not been seen or heard from since. 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. ", The statement adds: "Detectives recognized items in Phelps back yard that coincided with the photos. On Nov. 17, the Dallas County prosecutor filed first-degree murder charges against James Phelps and Timothy Norton in Rainwaters death. During that hearing, Judge John C. Porter ruled against a bond request filed by Phelps attorney. Phelps and Norton have been jailed on a kidnapping charge since mid-September, when photos of Rainwater partially nude and confined to a cage were found on Phelps' phone, authorities said. The 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time. In a Facebook post, Sheriff Rice addressed rumors in the investigation into the disappearance of Cassidy Rainwater. On Monday, the Dallas County Sheriffs Officereleased a statement on Facebookstating that the FBI has recovered several items that will be used to further the investigation. The address listed for him on online court systems and court documents showed the same address as James Phelps home on Moon Valley Road. In the report, investigators claimed they found the explosive device in a mortar tube with a balloon cover, which featured tripwires. 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. The flesh from the freezer also yielded a DNA match for Rainwater. ", They also found skeletal remains at an adjoining property, which "were confirmed by the crime lab to be Cassidy Rainwater.". Waiting for your permission to load facebook comments. 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 .