Murder suspect indicted
Nathan Becker
Issue date: 3/20/08 Section: News
A Novinger woman is in jail on charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in conjunction with the shooting death of Melvin Griesbauer more than two years ago.
Elain Kay Young of Novinger, Mo., was arrested Monday after being indicted by an Adair County Grand Jury. The 53-year-old currently is in the Adair County Detention Center on a $2.5 million cash-only bond and, if convicted, could serve life in prison without parole or receive the death penalty.
Responding to a 911 call of a reported suicide March 23, 2006, Adair County Sheriff's Deputies found Griesbauer dead outside his and Young's home just outside of Novinger. He had died from a single gunshot wound to the head from a .30-caliber Winchester lever-action rifle.
Larry Logston, Adair County deputy sheriff, said the deputies quickly determined that Griesbauer's death probably wasn't a suicide.
"Typically in a suicide, the body falls one way, just through training and experience, and the gun falls a certain way," Logston said. "It shouldn't fall parallel to the body. A lot of things just pretty quickly came up fishy."
Adair County Coroner Brian Noe said that after he conducted the autopsy on Griesbauer, he determined the death was not a suicide.
"There were things that made us believe that it was not self-inflicted, that we were told at the beginning was what transpired," Noe said.
Authorities arrested Katherine Mock of Cassville, Mo., in connection with Griesbauer's death, but Logston said many community members thought Young also was in on the crime.
"Most people around Novinger that know [Young] and have dealt with [Young] were convinced she did it from Day One," Logston said.
The Grand Jury indictment charges that Mock and Young worked together to cause Griesbauer's death.
Logston said a possible motive for the two women was the large amount of money they might receive in life insurance payoffs if Griesbauer died.
Elain Kay Young of Novinger, Mo., was arrested Monday after being indicted by an Adair County Grand Jury. The 53-year-old currently is in the Adair County Detention Center on a $2.5 million cash-only bond and, if convicted, could serve life in prison without parole or receive the death penalty.
Responding to a 911 call of a reported suicide March 23, 2006, Adair County Sheriff's Deputies found Griesbauer dead outside his and Young's home just outside of Novinger. He had died from a single gunshot wound to the head from a .30-caliber Winchester lever-action rifle.
Larry Logston, Adair County deputy sheriff, said the deputies quickly determined that Griesbauer's death probably wasn't a suicide.
"Typically in a suicide, the body falls one way, just through training and experience, and the gun falls a certain way," Logston said. "It shouldn't fall parallel to the body. A lot of things just pretty quickly came up fishy."
Adair County Coroner Brian Noe said that after he conducted the autopsy on Griesbauer, he determined the death was not a suicide.
"There were things that made us believe that it was not self-inflicted, that we were told at the beginning was what transpired," Noe said.
Authorities arrested Katherine Mock of Cassville, Mo., in connection with Griesbauer's death, but Logston said many community members thought Young also was in on the crime.
"Most people around Novinger that know [Young] and have dealt with [Young] were convinced she did it from Day One," Logston said.
The Grand Jury indictment charges that Mock and Young worked together to cause Griesbauer's death.
Logston said a possible motive for the two women was the large amount of money they might receive in life insurance payoffs if Griesbauer died.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
John Griesbauer
posted 4/08/08 @ 6:33 PM CST
Finally,Thanks to all who helped or are still helping with this case.Please don't drop the ball. Yeah!
BJS
posted 4/12/08 @ 5:00 PM CST
John:
I'm very sorry for your loss. The law enforcement team on this case has maintained a dogged investigation, and have finally taken down the other suspect in Mel's murder. (Continued…)
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