Advance man is charged in suspicious death case

An Advance man has been charged as the investigation continues into a suspicious death in Advance.

According to Stoddard County Sheriff Carl Hefner, his office received a residential alarm at 604 Duckett St., in Advance at approximately 4:47 a.m. Tuesday. Upon the officer’s arrival, he discovered a male, who was later identified as Robert L. Harwood, 61, deceased on the living room floor. The scene was secured and the Stoddard County Major Case Squad was activated.

An autopsy was conducted Wednesday in Farmington, according to a press release. The official results of that autopsy are not being released by authorities at this time.

Interviews were conducted later Tuesday with an adult and two juvenile suspects, all of which were taken into custody.

On Wednesday, Joshua R Herron, 41, of Advance was charged with tampering with physical evidence. Herron’s bond was set at $25,000 and he remains in the Stoddard County Jail.

Hefner stated Tuesday afternoon schools in the area went into lockdown for a time Tuesday, as a precaution. Among the schools on lockdown were Advance, Zalma and Kelly.

Advance Superintendent Shannon Garner stated Advance Schools were on lockdown for a couple hours on the advice of law enforcement. Garner said the campus was never threatened during the lockdown and classes proceeded normally on Tuesday.

The Stoddard County Major Case Squad consists of members from the Stoddard County Sheriff’s Office and Missouri State Highway Patrol, as well as Dexter, Bernie, Bloomfield, Puxico and Advance police departments.

The investigation is continuing and other arrests and charges may be forthcoming.