Missouri Department of Corrections

UPDATE: Mid-Missouri murder suspect found dead in Audrain County

March 20, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

43-year-old Brandon Spears of Mexico served eight stints in Missouri prisons (November 2022 file photo courtesy of the Missouri Department of Corrections website)

A mid-Missouri parolee accused of murdering his mother and then absconding has been found dead in Audrain County, according to the “Mexico Ledger” newspaper.

Newspaper managing editor Matt Pilger, a former 939 the Eagle reporter, says 43-year-old Brandon Spears was reportedly found dead by an Audrain County homeowner. Mexico Public Safety Major Brice Mesko tells the “Mexico Ledger” that an autopsy will be conducted this week in Columbia. The Boone County medical examiner’s office will conduct the autopsy.

No other details are being released.

Spears had been charged with first degree murder and arson for the December death of his mother in an apartment blaze. Spears had been paroled from prison about a week before the deadly fire. The victim was 60-year-old Ruth Ann Stuart, who also owned properties in Columbia.

939 the Eagle News has confirmed with the Missouri Department of Corrections that Spears had served eight stints in prison. Most of his parole revocations were for technical violations and misdemeanor offenses.

Jefferson City’s Truman Building is backdrop for today’s state employee pay raise bill-signing

February 27, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri Governor Mike Parson (left) and State Rep. Richard Brown (D-Kansas City) speak at the governor’s mansion in Jefferson City on February 1, 2023 (file photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

Jefferson City’s approximately 14,000 state employees will soon see an increase in their pay.

Governor Mike Parson (R) will sign the bipartisan 8.7 percent pay raise for state employees into law today at 2 at Jefferson City’s Truman building. State employees are invited to attend the ceremony on the second floor atrium. Thousands of state employees work in that building.

Governor Parson says there are currently more than 7,000 open positions across state government, adding that the wage increase is the minimum that lawmakers must do.

The governor will also hold a ceremonial bill-signing tomorrow at 11:45 at the Fulton Reception and Diagnostic Center (FRDC).

Governor Parson called for lawmakers to approve the plan during his January State of the State address. The governor has told 939 the Eagle that he’s “not asking for the moon,” adding that it’s critical to retain good state employees in areas like corrections, mental health and in the Children’s Division, which is part of the state Department of Social Services (DSS).

Missouri’s governor say his AG pick embodies faith, family and freedom

November 23, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Governor Mike Parson prepares to introduce Andrew Bailey as Missouri’s next attorney general on November 23, 2022 in Jefferson City (photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

Missouri’s next attorney general is a familiar name in state government and at the Statehouse in Jefferson City.

Governor Mike Parson (R) has appointed his office’s general counsel, Andrew Bailey, to the post. Bailey has also served as a Missouri Assistant Attorney General and as general counsel for the Missouri Department of Corrections.

He will be Missouri’s fourth attorney general in six years. Governor Mike Parson says bringing stability to the AG’s office is critical. The governor says he looked for five core things with this appointment.

“Commitment to law and order, patriotism and respect for the (state) Constitution. Conservative values, family values and someone who would promote calm and steady while never afraid to fight for Missourians,” Parson says.

Bailey’s start date hasn’t been determined yet. While the governor didn’t say it, he implied that he expects Bailey to run for the post in 2024. Parson tells Capitol reporters that Bailey has had many accomplishments as general counsel for the governor’s office.

“We fought for the unborn and ended elective abortions in Missouri. We’ve strengthened the Second Amendment protections. Supported law enforcement at every turn,” says Bailey.

Bailey will replace U.S. Sen.-Elect Eric Schmitt, the outgoing attorney general. This is the second time Governor Parson has appointed an attorney general. Parson appointed Schmitt to the post in 2018, when Josh Hawley was elected to the U-S Senate.

Meantime, Missouri’s top House Democrat is calling on Bailey to end what she calls outgoing attorney general Schmitt’s frivolous lawsuits. House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D-Springfield) says Schmitt used the attorney general’s office “as a taxpayer-funded arm of his political campaigns,” saying he wasted money on frivolous lawsuits.

‘We are hopeful that Mr. Bailey can succeed in the immense task that awaits him,” Leader Quade says, in a news release.

As for GOP Governor Parson, he says Bailey embodies the ideals of faith, family and freedom, and that he’ll fight for Missouri children like they’re his own.

Judge rejects bond for Columbia parolee who barricaded himself in house

October 27, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s Probation and Parole Board has issued a warrant for 32-year-old Christopher John Crane’s arrest (2021 mug shot courtesy of Missouri Department of Corrections spokeswoman Karen Pojmann)

Charges have been filed against the parolee who allegedly took a hostage Tuesday night before barricading himself inside a home near Douglass park for three hours.

Boone County prosecutors have charged 32-year-old Christopher John Crane with two felonies: second degree kidnapping and resisting arrest. They’ve also charged him with violating an adult protection order. Boone County Circuit Judge Kevin Crane has denied bond for the suspect.

The Missouri Department of Corrections says Christopher Crane was paroled from prison in 2021, after serving time for resisting arrest and tampering with a motor vehicle. He’ll likely return to prison this week, due to violating parole.

Crane has served at least two stints in prison: from May 2019 until October 2020 and again from January 2021 until October 2021. State Department of Corrections spokesman Karen Pojmann tells 939 the Eagle that the parole board issued a warrant for Crane’s arrest in September, for a separate alleged kidnapping incident.

UPDATE: Barricaded Columbia suspect was paroled from prison in 2021

October 26, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Columbia Police have identified the parolee who allegedly took a hostage Tuesday night before barricading himself inside a home near Douglass park for two-and-a-half hours. The incident happened in the 600 block of Lyon in the central city.

The standoff closed several streets near Douglass park.

CPD investigators are seeking numerous charges against 32-year-old Christopher John Crane, including second-degree kidnapping, third degree domestic assault, violating a protection order and resisting arrest.

Online records from the Missouri Department of Corrections (DOC) show Crane was paroled from prison in 2021, after serving time for resisting arrest and tampering with a motor vehicle. State DOC spokeswoman Karen Pojmann tells 939 the Eagle that Crane was incarcerated from May 16, 2019 until October 29, 2020 and again from January 26, 2021 to October 8, 2021.

Columbia Police also say Crane was arrested for kidnapping, harassment and domestic assault for a September 22 incident. Crane’s parole will likely be revoked for one or for both incidents. Pojmann confirms Missouri’s Probation and Parole Board issued a warrant for Crane’s arrest on September 28, 2022.