93.3 KWTO Keeping Watch Over the Ozarks
Story by Brian Hauswirth, 93.9 The Eagle
UPDATE: Sheriff’s deputies in mid-Missouri’s Miller County say a murder suspect who killed himself overnight in South Dakota is now suspected of killing a man and a woman in Kaiser.
Miller County Sheriff Louie Gregoire’s office says the two victims were discovered Wednesday in the 300 block of Route D. The sheriff identifies the victims as 74-year-old Daniel Stephan and 64-year-old Pamela Stephan.
The victims’ names have not been released, pending notification of relatives.
Miller County sheriff’s deputies say deputies were dispatched to the home, for a well-being check. Deputy Sheriff Randy Wheeler tells 939 the Eagle that detectives are still investigating.
It’s unclear when Daniel and Pamela Stephan were murdered.
The suspect in their deaths, 45-year-old JT McLean, was found dead in a stolen vehicle overnight in South Dakota. His body was found near a motel, as South Dakota state troopers and sheriff’s deputies closed in on him.
South Dakota authorities say they were contacted late last night by U.S. Marshals, saying that McLean was wanted for four murders: the August deaths of Fulton teacher Allison Abitz and her daughter Jozee, and the Miller County deaths. South Dakota authorities say McLean was driving a vehicle stolen from one of his murder victims, and ON STAR located the vehicle in the motel parking lot near Dakota Dunes.
As for the Miller County case, Sheriff Gregoire’s office describes it as an ongoing investigation. He also says the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control is assisting Miller County.
Original Story:
A mid-Missouri man charged with killing a Fulton teacher and her daughter has been found dead in rural South Dakota, from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. We’ve also confirmed that JT Mclean was wanted for two additional murders in Miller County.
The Union County Sheriff’s office in Elk Point tells 939 the Eagle that the 45-year-old McLean was found dead in a stolen vehicle, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
McLean, who has several aliases, was charged with two counts of first degree murder for the August deaths of Fulton teacher Allison Abitz and her daughter Jozee.
South Dakota authorities say they were contacted late last night by U-S Marshals, saying that McLean was wanted for four murders: the Abitz killings and two murders in Miller County. South Dakota authorities say McLean was driving a vehicle stolen from one of his murder victims, and ON STAR located that vehicle in a motel parking lot near Dakota Dunes.
Numerous agencies made contact with the motel and located McLean in his vehicle. They include the South Dakota Highway Patrol, Sioux City Police and South Dakota’s Department of Criminal Investigation.
Details about the Miller County murders are unclear. The Eagle has left a phone message for Miller County Sheriff Louie Gregoire. As for the August Boone County murders, court documents indicate that Allison Abitz was strangled, while Jozee was drowned.