Two Charged in Texas County
More charges have been filed in connection with the murder of Kenny Stout, 17.
Authorities said James K. Watson, 26, of Mansfield, was charged last Tuesday in Texas County with tampering with a motor vehicle, 1st degree, and tampering with physical evidence in felony prosecution.
And now, Judy L. Greuter, 56, of Elk Creek, has also been charged by Texas County Prosecuting Attorney Mike Anderson with felony tampering with physical evidence.
Watson is being held in Texas County on $1 million bond. Greuter’s bond was set at $250,000.
Greuter is accused of burning the clothes of Christopher Jorgensen and Nathan Jensen after they allegedly killed Stout near Ava on Dec. 13.
Stout’s body was found in the early morning of Dec. 15 on a logging road near the Ava Country Club west of Ava.
According to updated information received from Douglas County Sheriff Chris Degase this week, officers believe Stout was beaten around 5 p.m. Dec. 13, then stabbed to death around 11 o’clock that same night.
Information from the prosecutor’s office says Jorgensen and Jensen drove Stout to the area where his body was recovered, beat him severely and left him in a brush pile. Later the same night, after they had been questioned by police as to Stout’s whereabouts, the two went back to the location and stabbed Stout numerous times, making sure he was dead.
Jorgensen and Jensen are said to have then gone to Greuter’s residence where she assisted them by burning their clothes.
Sheriff Degase said Wednesday that officers believe all murder weapons have now been recovered. He did not say what those weapons are or how many.
Jorgensen, 29, of Ava, and Jensen, 26, of Seymour, are charged with murder in Douglas County and are being held without bond.
Greuter was arrested last Thursday at her residence by Missouri State Highway Patrol officers and is being held in Texas County, according to information obtained from the Houston Herald.
Kenny Stout grew up in Ava but was living in Republic with his parents at the time of the murder. He had friends and numerous relatives in the Ava area, and frequently visited here.
Jorgensen and Jensen are both scheduled to appear in Douglas County Associate Circuit Court on law day, Tuesday, Jan. 3. Sheriff Degase said due to the nature of the case, security will be tight.
The sheriff said the metal detector will be in use. Anyone planning to attend court that day should not bring items such as cell phones, pocket knives or purses to the courthouse.
