When police visited Phelps property, they found the same scene from the photographs provided by the FBI, according to an affidavit by Dallas County Sheriffs Department Sergeant Robby Simmons. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. According to authorities in Missouri, Cassidy Rainwater went missing in late July and was kidnapped and allegedly caged by two men who were charged for her murder on Wednesday. Norton told FBI agents that Phelps had him come over while Cassidy was sleeping in the living room floor, so he had easy access to attack Cassidy, the sheriffs office said. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. The FBI contacted Dallas County Sheriff's Office saying they had received an anonymous tip that Cassidy Rainwater was caged up on a property rented by Phelps. The Springfield Bomb Squad removed the device without any injuries to those handling the device. James Phelps, 58, is charged alongside. Authorities later learned that she was talking about James Phelps. (KY3) - A man has been arrested in the case of missing woman Cassidy Rainwater. Investigators say DNA testing identified her remains. The home caught fire during the evening hours of Oct. 4. Two weeks ago, FBI investigators from Kansas City got an anonymous tip that someone was holding Rainwater in a cage on some property near Lebanon. After tests confirmed that the labeled remains found in a freezer inside Phelps rented home were Rainwaters, the charges were upgraded to murder several weeks later. James Phelps and Timothy Norton were arrested in September and charged with the kidnapping of Cassidy Rainwater. The crime scene was investigated for seven days in mid-September, and according to the Sheriffs Office, investigators collected the gantry device, cage, and "items from the freezer that appeared to be human flesh with a date written on them of 7-24.". Nearly four months after Cassidy Rainwater went missing, the Dallas County prosecutor officially upgraded charges against Phelps and Norton. Geo resource failed to load. He wrote: While I understand the impatience and curiosity of the people, Im going to give you a piece of advice. Ad Choices, According to a news release from the Dallas County Sheriffs Office, According to court documents cited by WDAF-TV, The Sheriffs Office said in a news release, detonated an explosive device near the fire, Murder charges filed on the Cassidy Rainwater case Dallas County Sheriffs Office Facebook, Murder charges filed in death of southwest Missouri woman as grisly details revealed - Kansas City Star, Cassidy Rainwater case: Home of alleged kidnapper burns down after new evidence uncovered, 10/7/21 - TCD, 2 Missouri men arrested for allegedly keeping missing woman in a cage, 9/30/21 - TCD, Missouri men accused of keeping missing woman locked in cage, court records say, 9/28/2021 - WDAF. That man, James Phelps, had initially been arrested and charged with kidnapping Rainwater in September, along with another man named Timothy Norton, a trucker who had been living on Phelps property. According to court documents, Cassidy Rainwater's remains have been found on a property belonging to two men accused of kidnapping her and keeping her in a cage. Federal investigators said no one has seen Cassidy Rainwater since July. Two men are arrested for 'keeping partially-nude 33-year-old missing woman locked in a cage at their Missouri property' James Phelps and Timothy Norton allegedly restrained Cassidy Rainwater and . On the night of Oct. 4, a day before Phelps and Norton were scheduled to appear in court, Phelps' home burned to the ground. The woman was described as sleeping when the attack took place. One of the two men charged in the Dallas County kidnapping and death of Cassidy Rainwater entered an Alford plea on Friday and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Phelps' co-defendant, Timothy Norton, faces the same charges. Terry told authorities that the last time Rainwater was seen was about six weeks earlier and she believed that a James Rainwater was the last person to see her. Digital evidence found at the scene revealed messages between Phelps and Norton planning Rainwater's death, the sheriff said. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Man charged in Cassidy Rainwater death enters plea, sentenced to life, Popular Mobile Games You Must Play In 2023, according to Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute, Murder charges filed, gruesome details released in Cassidy Rainwater case, Man charged in Cassidy Rainwater death enters plea, sentenced to life. 18:16 BST 18 Nov 2021. On September 16, investigators received a search warrant for James Phelps' cell phone, and court records say they found seven photos of Cassidy Rainwater partially nude being held in a cage. Cassidy was at the property looking for her missing mother. No motive has been revealed in connection with Rainwater's brutal killing. Cassidy was reported missing by a family member in August but reports say she was last seen on July 25th. Phelps entered an Alford plea, a type of guilty plea in which a defendant maintains their innocence but acknowledges prosecutors have sufficient evidence for a conviction. Norton confessed to the murder of Cassidy Rainwater. Other photos allegedly showed "Cassidy's body bound to a gantry crane, commonly used for deer processing, and her evisceration and dismemberment. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. After receiving the information from the FBI, deputies went back out to Moon Valley Road and recognized items in Phelps backyard that coincided with the photos.. See Kelce Jam, One person killed, four others injured in crash in Kansas City, Kansas, Jury finds father guilty in 2017 fatal shooting of his childrens mother in Kansas City, Two charged for allegedly stealing NFL jerseys designated for top picks at NFL Draft, Woman found dead in Kansas City apartment on Saturday after caller alerted police, Three men killed in two shootings thought by police to be connected, KCPD says, In fatally shooting man in moving car, KCK cops used tactic discouraged by experts. Norton then admitted that after arriving at Phelps home he did physically confine CR by holding her down for a substantial period of time, for the purpose of facilitating the commission of a felony, or inflicting physical injury on, or terrorizing CR, the document said. All pre-trial hearings in Phelps' case will still be held in Dallas County, and even at the trial in Jasper County, Dallas County Judge Jill Porter will preside. I dont understand what makes people get like that, says Williams. Police say the 33-year-olds remains were found in a freezer at the home of one of the men accused of kidnapping her in Windyville, an unincorporated Ozarks community about 160 miles from Kansas City. (KY3) - The worst fears of Cassidy Rainwater's family and friends were confirmed Wednesday. If these people have committed such horrible crimes as they are accused, I hope the legal system prosecutes them to the fullest extent, said the woman. The Law Did Not Treat Them Kindly. In a Facebook post, Sheriff Rice addressed rumors in the investigation into the disappearance of Cassidy Rainwater. Phelps, 60, is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and abandonment of a corpse in the case of 33-year-old Cassidy Rainwater. The tipster advised there was a photo showing a missing person, Cassidy Rainwater, being held in a cage in a partially nude state. Sheriffs officials have said that Phelps said he did but that he hadnt spoken to her in roughly a month. The Dallas County Sheriff applied for and received a search warrant for Phelps' phone later that day, WDAF reported, and reportedly found seven pictures . The woman recalled Rainwater as being friendly. Norton is scheduled to appear in court next Tuesday. The Sheriffs Office said in a news release that a crime lab confirmed the remains recovered from the freezer were Rainwaters. DNA tests returned to Dallas County Sheriff Scott Rice confirmed Rainwaters flesh was found in a freezer. The Dallas County Sheriffs Office confirmed with OzarksFirst around 10 p.m., the home caught fire Monday. Norton stated he helped Phelps carry Cassidy's body into the house and placed her into the bathtub.". Murder charges have been filed in Missouri against two men accused of killing and dismembering Cassidy Rainwater. During that interview, police said Norton confessed that he knew Cassidy Rainwater was being held at the home of James Phelps in a cage. Evidence found in a September search included Rainwater's remains. A family member contacted the Dallas County Sheriffs Office saying they had not seen Rainwater or heard from her for an unspecified amount of time. In September, Phelps twice told investigators that Rainwater was staying with him while she got on her feet, but he said he hadn't seen her since she left about a month ago and that she was going to Colorado, Rice said. An amended criminal complaint shows the two men each still face a kidnapping charge as well as a felony count of abandonment of a corpse, saying they knowingly disposed of the corpse of Cassidy Rainwater at or near Phelps property without notifying authorities. Cassidy Rainwater's remains found on accused kidnappers' property in Missouri, court docs reveal During a search, investigators on the scene of the Moon Valley Road property found the. On October 4, a fire that investigators have ruled an arson destroyed Phelps' home. A report, first obtained by local news outlet, Murder Charges Filed, Human Remains Found in Missouri Case That Fueled Gruesome TikTok Rumors, It Is Easy for a Person to Disappear: Accused Murderer Suggests Missing Wife Ran Away, E. Jean Carroll Recounts Extremely Painful Rape, Trump Stays Home Shitposting, Too Twee or Not Too Twee: Meet the People Behind the Wes Anderson TikTok Trend, CIA Director, Noam Chomsky Named in Epstein's Private Calendar: Report, Drake, Will Arnett Celebrate Toronto Maple Leafs' (Long-Awaited) Postseason Triumph, Meet the YouTube Creator Busting Crypto Scams, Twitter to Allow Media Publishers to Charge Per Article, Want to Make Cash As a Creator? She was reported missing by a relative on August 25th. On Wednesday, the Dallas County Sheriffs Department announced the murder charges against Timothy Norton, 56, and James Phelps, 58, in a statement on Facebook, and court documents reveal new disturbing details of the case. The detective noticed the loft on the property looked like it had been stripped, and they did not notice any belongings of Cassidys at the loft at that time. Two men are charged with her murder after photos showed her evisceration and dismemberment. Phelps' house later burned to the ground in what investigators determined was arson. He noted there is a lot of misinformation circulating in the case. Rachel Nicholson, who moved to Lebanon recently, said she saw the home go up in flames from a distance. Mom Ana Walshe, Charged with Murder, Newlywed Found Decapitated in Her Home, Her Husband of 3 Months Allegedly Confessed to Killing Her, Ex-Boyfriend Accused of Murdering, Dismembering New York Woman and Stuffing Remains in Suitcase, La. The new charges included first-degree murder and abandonment of a corpse after DNA tests returned to the Dallas County Sheriffs Office confirmed the death of Rainwater. Murder charges have been filed in Missouri against two men accused of killing and dismembering Cassidy Rainwater . James Phelps and Timothy L. Norton have been charged with kidnapping 33-year-old Cassidy Rainwater who was reported missing on July 24. Phelps was arrested at the scene on Sept. 16. Additional reporting by The Associated Press. 24. The new charges come after remains recovered at Phelps property just days after his arrest were positively identified as Rainwaters. In a September announcement of Phelps arrest, Sheriff Scott Rice had said, Due to the extreme nature of the crime and the continuation of the investigation, additional details cannot be released at this time., Editors picks When investigators searched Phelps property, court documents say they found Rainwaters remains in a deep freezer in packages labeled 7-24, the last day Rainwater is believed to be alive. She said she cant wrap her head around all of this. A search warrant executed at Phelps home uncovered photos of a partially clothed female in a cage who we recognized as Cassidy, police said in a statement Wednesday. Investigators ruled the fire as undetermined and criminal. James Phelps, one of two kidnapping suspects charged in the disappearance of Cassidy Rainwater, had previously rented the home. Police have not yet given a motive for the grisly crime, but they say Phelps and Norton planned it in advance. ", The statement adds: "Detectives recognized items in Phelps back yard that coincided with the photos. Those items were dated July 24. DALLAS COUNTY, Mo. Investigators obtained a search warrant for Phelps' cellphone and uncovered pictures of Rainwater partially nude being held in a cage on Phelps' property. Chris Harris has been a senior true crime reporter for PEOPLE since late 2015. He also told the deputy that at the end of July 2021, Rainwater had left in the middle of the night and met with someone in a vehicle at the end of the driveway and he had not seen or heard from her since. In a hearing in Dallas County, James Phelps who was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Cassidy Rainwater entered an Alford plea in the case. (KY3) - The Dallas County Sheriffs Office led a months-long investigation into the disappearance and death of Cassidy Rainwater, a case that took national spotlight several weeks after she initially went missing. The address listed for him on online court systems and court documents showed the same address as James Phelps home on Moon Valley Road. Rumours about what happened to Ms Rainwater forced Scott Rice, the Dallas County sheriff, to decry what he called Fake News on Facebook in October. She asked us to conceal her identity for her protection. James Phelps, 58, and Timothy Norton, 56, were hit with the murder counts as well as being charged with abandonment of a corpse. Fire crews from multiple stations were working to put out hotspots. One day later, police brought back Norton to interview him again. Photos from FBI investigators that were included in court documents on Wednesday also showed her dismembered and semi-naked body that was allegedly strapped into a device. Rice said Norton told investigators Phelps asked him to help kill Rainwater on July 24 while she was staying at Phelps' home. Several hours later, the bomb squad detonated the suspicious device. Investigators say Norton admitted to holding down Rainwaters legs while Phelps strangled her. Investigators searched Phelps' home near Lebanon, Missouri, for seven days and found the gantry crane, cage and items in the freezer that appeared to be 'human flesh,' Rice said. The bomb squad arrived around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday and shortly after, they detonated an explosive device near the area of the fire. James D. Phelps, 60, was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and abandonment of a corpse in the case of 33-year-old Cassidy Rainwater. Norton was arrested Sept. 21. Phelps, 58, was arrested on September 16 after investigators found seven photos on his phone showing Rainwater half-naked and being held in a cage at his home in Lebanon, Missouri. "Norton stated, after entering the house, he held Cassidy's legs down while Phelps strangled her and placed a bag over her head. I refuse to do it | Opinion, Clark Hunt says hes surprised Chiefs players griped about facilities. Authorities have said there is no reason to believe that there are other victims associated with Mr Phelps and Mr Norton, and that the investigation is ongoing. Phelps lawyer has not commented on the previous charges and did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the murder charges. Per court records, that is when he admitted details to authorities about restraining Rainwater back in July. A woman whose remains were found in September was kept in a cage before being murdered, eviscerated, and dismembered, according murder charges filed against two Missouri men. The next court hearings are currently set for Feb. 8 for Timothy Norton and Feb. 18 for James Phelps. The comments below have not been moderated, By KOLR-TV is in contact with local authorities daily, but they are not releasing much information. During that hearing, Judge John C. Porter ruled against a bond request filed by Phelps attorney. Due to the nature of the plea, there was no criminal trial. Authorities say they have no reason to believe there are any other victims associated with Phelps and Norton at this time.. All rights reserved. According to court documents, hed told agents Phelps asked him to come over while Rainwater was sleeping. Admonishing true crime fans who were sitting in their apartment or their mommy and daddys basement eating Great Value cheese puffs and drinking box wine, he went on to say that the public should stop hanging on very word is this type of crap. He said hed held Rainwaters legs while Phelps strangled her and placed a bag over her head. Police have now upped the charges against both men to first-degree murder. ", After the 33-year-old woman was dead, "he and Phelps took a short break before carrying her body outside," according to the statement. At one point, a Dallas County deputy found something that resembled a tripwire; thats when the Springfield bomb squad was sent to investigate. Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Phelps is one of two suspects in the Cassidy Rainwater murder case. man accused of kidnapping Cassidy Rainwater burns to the ground, PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Two accused of kidnapping Cassidy Rainwater appear in Dallas County court, PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Neighbor speaks on fire and Dallas Co. investigation of Cassidy Rainwater, PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Dallas County sheriff addresses rumors in disappearance case of Cassidy Rainwater, PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Investigators found incendiary device during fire at home at center of kidnapping case in Dallas County, PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Missouri State Fire Marshal rules fire at home of kidnapping in Dallas County as arson, PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Attorneys for James Phelps request new judge in kidnapping case of Cassidy Rainwater, PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Dallas County sheriff confirms remains found on James Phelps property as Cassidy Rainwater, PREVIOUS COVERAGE: A closer look at the relationship between James Phelps and Timothy Norton, EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Dallas County sheriff explains whats next in case of Cassidy Rainwater. It appears that the land has been in the Phelps family for years as multiple people have used that address, according to online court records. His attorneys said they will ask a judge to set a bond. She is listed as a freshman in the 2003 yearbook from . Mr Phelps and Mr Norton, who are due to appear in court, had already been charged with kidnapping before being issued with higher charges on Wednesday. (KOLR) Cassidy Rainwater, the woman seen in a dark web photo being held in a cage in a partially nude state, was reported missing in August. Norton was interviewed again on Sept. 20 at the Dallas County Sheriffs Office. The tip the FBI received was titled Cassidy. Phelps and Timothy Norton, both of Dallas County, were charged in September 2021 with kidnapping the 33-year-old woman and facilitating a felony, inflicting injury and terrorizing. Cassidy Rainwater's remains were recently identified. A Dallas County deputy had alerted a firefighter after discovering a trip wire near the home.