Press Releases

Press Release

In Mid-July Miller County Sheriff's Detective's began to investigate Richard Thurman, 74 of Brumley for possession of child pornography. The investigation was the result of a cyber tip received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Miller County Detectives assigned to the Lake Area Cyber Crimes Task force (an affiliate of Missouri Internet Crimes Against Children) responded to Thurman's residence and seized multiple computers suspected of containing child pornography. The seized computers were sent to the Missouri Digital Forensic Center in Jefferson City to be examined.

On August 30th  a report was received from the Digital Forensic Center that confirmed the seized computers contained over 140 images of confirmed child pornography and over 700 child exploitation images.

Thurman was taken into custody on 09/01/2022 and has been charged with possession of child pornography and is currently being held in the Miller County Jail, in lieu of a $50,000 bond.

I am grateful for the hard work by my Detectives in removing this child predator from the Miller County Community. I am also thankful for the great working relationship our agency has with the Lake Area Cyber Crimes Task Force, Missouri Internet Crimes Against Children, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

If you suspect someone of sexually abusing or exploiting children, you are urged to contact local law enforcement and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children 24-hour hotline at 1-800-843-5678.

On March 1st, 2022, the Sheriff's Office received a tip that a teacher with the Miller County R-3 School District was having inappropriate contact with students. The teacher was identified as Michael Allen. The investigation revealed that Allen had been providing alcohol to several underage female students and was having a sexual relationship with one of the students. 

On March 9th, 2022, with the assistance of the Morgan County Sheriff's Office Allen was taken into custody. He was transported to the Miller County Adult Detention Center. Allen has been charged by the Miller County Prosecutor with two counts of sexual contact with a student and two counts of sodomy 2nd degree. He remains in the Miller County Adult Detention Center in lieu of a $75,000 bond.

On 09/13/2021 Deputies and members of the Mid-Missouri Drug Task Force responded to an address on Castle Road in Brumley, in reference to a drug complaint. Deputies made contact with the residents and obtained consent to search the residence. Upon searching the residence, deputies located methamphetamine and other narcotics. Deputies arrested Brian Burd, who was also a non-compliant sex offender, and Rebecca Webster, who was hiding inside the residence. Burd has been charged with possession of a controlled substance, hindering prosecution, and failure to register as a sex offender. His bond is set at $35,000. Webster was arrested on felony warrants, and has subsequently been charged with delivery of a controlled substance. Her bond is set at $25,000. Both subjects remain in custody at the Miller County Jail in lieu of their bonds. All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If you have information about drug activity, you are encouraged to contact the Sheriff's Office non-emergency number 573-369-2341, or you may submit online tips via our website www.millercountysheriff.org.  All tips can be made anonymously.   

Autopsies are scheduled Monday 09/13/2021 for Daniel and Pam Stephan at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Results of those autopsies may not be available for several weeks. The Union County Sheriff's Office has executed a search warrant and obtained several items of interest. Detectives will be traveling to South Dakota next week along with Boone County and Highway Patrol Investigators. Out of respect to the family, limited information is being released until the investigation is complete. Additional press releases will follow in the next several weeks. We want to thank the Boone County Sheriff's Office, Missouri State Highway Patrol, and Union County Sheriff's Office for their assistance in this joint investigation.

Press Release

On 09/08/2021, Miller County deputies were dispatched to an address in the 300 block of Route D in Kaiser for a well-being check. Upon arrival, deputies located two deceased individuals, one male, and one female. The victims' have been identified as Daniel Stephan, 74 and Pamela Stephan, 64, both of Kaiser. The case is being investigated by detectives as a homicide. The preliminary investigation has identified a male, JT Mclean, as a suspect. During the early morning hours of 09/09/2021 JT Mclean was found deceased by the Union County Sheriff's Office in South Dakota from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. This is an on-going investigation and the Sheriff's Office is being assisted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control.

Press Release

On 08/05/2021 deputies responded to a location on Redbird lane in Ulman in an attempt to locate Jody Ray Ash. Ash had been listed as a most wanted fugitive. Upon making contact with Ash, he fled on foot from deputies, but was quickly apprehended. Ash was wanted for a no bond probation warrant and a Pulaski County warrant. He was transported to the Miller County jail and faces additional felony charges. Deputies were assisted by the Missouri State Park Rangers.  

Press Release

During the late evening hours on 05/26/2021 Miller County Deputies conducted a traffic stop on Highway 54 east of Route FF in Mount Pleasant. During the stop, deputies developed probable cause to search the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle deputies located approximately 63 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. A passenger in the vehicle, Charles Yelm, 55 of Eldon, was arrested and transported to the Miller County Jail. Yelm has been charged by the Miller County Prosecutor with trafficking drugs 2nd degree and is currently being held in lieu of a $25,000 Bond.

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Sheriff Gregoire reminds those who choose to distribute narcotics in Miller County, you will be caught and prosecuted.

Press Release

During the afternoon hours on 05/18/2021 deputies and Mid Missouri Drug Task Force detectives responded to the 100 block of Gardner Street in Iberia to execute a narcotics search warrant. During the search, deputies located methamphetamine, heroin, and several wanted fugitives. Brooklyn Heislen was arrested on warrants and has been charged with possession of a controlled substance with a bond set at $25,000, Chandra Ash was arrested on warrants and charged with possession of a controlled substance and endangering the welfare of a child 1st degree with a bond set at $50,000, Charles Christoff was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance with a bond set at $25,000, Logan Stone was arrested on warrants, Marsha Wyrick was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance with a bond set at $25,000, Nicolas Adkins was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance with a bond set at $25,000.

All subjects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Sheriff Gregoire thanks the vigilant citizens of Miller County, and encourages anyone with information about criminal activity to contact the Sheriff's Office 573-369-2341 or you can leave an anonymous tip by visiting the Sheriff's Office website www.millercountysheriff.org.

Press Release

During the afternoon hours on 05/04/2021, Miller County Deputies and the Mid Missouri Drug Task Force executed a narcotic search warrant at an address off of Brushy Creek Road in St. Elizabeth. During the search deputies located methamphetamine, marijuana, other controlled substances, and a firearm possessed by a felon. Three individuals were arrested and transported to the Miller County Jail. Bobby Reed was arrested and charged with Distribution of a controlled substance, hindering prosecution of a felony, and possession of a controlled substance. He is currently being held in the Miller County Jail in lieu of a $50,000 bond. Also arrested was Jackie Bonnett on a Osage County Warrant and Harley Gabbard on a Cole County warrant. Gabbard also faces additional felony charges.

All subjects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Sheriff Gregoire thanks the vigilant citizens of Miller County, and encourages anyone with information about criminal activity to contact the Sheriff's Office 573-369-2341 or you can leave an anonymous tip by visiting the Sheriff's Office website www.millercountysheriff.org.

Press Release

On 03/07/2021 deputies conducted a traffic stop on Highway 42 in Iberia. During the stop, deputies located almost a pound of methamphetamine, cocaine, and other controlled substances. The driver Jeffrey Allen 38 of Camdenton was arrested and transported to the Miller County Adult Detention Center. He has been charged with one count of trafficking drugs 2nd degree and five counts of possession of a controlled substance and is currently being held in lieu of a $175,000 bond. This was a joint investigation involving the Mid Missouri Drug Task Force and Lake Ozark Police Department. 

-Sheriff Gregoire