Suspect charged in murder

POPLAR BLUFF -- A Poplar Bluff man continues to be held without bond after he was charged Friday with causing the death of another man over the alleged theft of prescription pills.

Edward William Weaver, 23, was charged with the Class A felony of first degree murder or in the alternative the Class A felony of second-degree murder by Butler County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Paul Oesterreicher.

The complaint filed with the court alleges on or about Aug. 22, Weaver "after deliberation, know- Norman K. Jones by either shooting or strangling him" or in the alternative Jones was "killed by either shooting or strangulation during the perpetration of the Class B felony of distribution of a controlled substance ..."

Although an autopsy was performed on Jones Friday morning by Dr. Russell Deidiker at Mineral Area Regional Medical Center at Farmington, Mo., his cause of death is not being released at this time.

"Details of the autopsy are not being released pending toxicology and histology," said Butler County Coroner Jim Akers, who indicated Jones' manner of death was homicide.

Toxicology results typically take six to eight weeks to be returned.

According to Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs, Jones' arms and legs were bound, and there was an apparent ligature located around his neck.

Investigators "believe the actual motive for the crime was that the victim allegedly stole some narcotics from the suspect," said Dobbs.

The discovery of Jones' body was made at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday by Butler County Sgt. Wade Dare, who stopped to check on an abandoned vehicle in a ditch along County Road 355.

For the full story, see Monday's edition of the Standard Democrat.