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DPS arrests help unravel a Nebraska murder case
SIKESTON - Extradition proceedings are under way on two murder suspects who are wanted in Nebraska but were arrested here following a drug investigation.
According to Sikeston Department of Public Safety Director Drew Juden, DPS narcotics officers investigating the distribution of marijuana in the Sikeston area found more than they were looking for when they checked the background of two people named during the investigation.
During checks with the police department in Omaha, Neb., they learned authorities there were seeking warrants on the men for the 1999 murder of a Phoenix, Ariz., resident in Omaha.
"The warrants hadn't been issued until Tuesday of this week - they had just developed the information on these guys up there," said DPS Capt. Mark Crocker.
Upon receiving the murder arrest warrants from Omaha authorities for Quan Lowery, 24, and Antonio D. Parr, 25, narcotic detectives obtained search warrants for their alleged residences in Sikeston.
The DPS Special Operation Group served the search warrants at the residences at about 5 p.m. Wednesday but the suspects were not found at their homes. As the search continued, DPS detectives and patrol officers found them during separate vehicle stops at about 5:30 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. Wednesday. Approximately 60 "dime bags" of marijuana packaged for distribution were located on one of the vehicle stops and at a residence Parr was reported to have been at. One of the men reportedly confessed to DPS officers he was distributing the marijuana in Sikeston, Juden said.
According to information gathered from Omaha authorities, "these guys were career dope dealers and had been run out of the Omaha area," Juden said. "This shows our ongoing commitment to moving people like that out of our community."
Officials refused to speculate as to why the life-long friends selected Sikeston to live after leaving Omaha, but noted that Parr has relatives here and Lowery married a local girl around the first of the year.
Omaha authorities were notified of the arrests. Lowery and Parr are being held at the Scott County Jail awaiting extradition proceedings. No bond was set on the Nebraska warrants.
"The message we're sending is that you can run and you can hide, but don't hide in Sikeston because we're going to hunt you down," Juden said.
Two other suspects were also arrested in connection with the local drug charges but their names are being withheld pending warrants. Other arrests are also pending from this investigation.
Anyone with information about this incident or other crimes is asked to call DPS at 471-6200 or 471-1500. All communications will remain confidential.