BLOOMFIELD -- Charges were filed Thursday against three Dexter men for preventing the apprehension of another man who authorities had been searching for in connection with a June stabbing death.
Joshua James Koonce, according to earlier reports, had been developed through investigative leads as a person of interest in the death of Jimmy Lynn Casey.
The 66-year-old's body was found June 28 inside his residence in the 1100 block of North Mulberry Street by his home-health care aide. A subsequent autopsy showed Casey had been stabbed five times.
Authorities believed Koonce was the last person to see Casey alive and may have shared a sexual relationship with him.
Koonce's last known address reportedly was in the 1100 block of North Sassafras.
"Joshua shared the residence with his brother, Brandon Koonce, and an acquaintance, Jared Eldreth," Dexter Capt. Hank Trout wrote in his probable-cause statement.
On June 28, Trout said, officers interviewed Brandon Koonce in an attempt to locate his brother.
"B. Koonce stated he last saw Joshua on Tuesday, June 26, 2018, and did not know his whereabouts," Trout said.
At time, Trout said officers "made it clear that we wanted to talk to Josh."
Trout said officers also interviewed Joshua Koonce's father, David, that same day, and he also reported he had last seen his son on June 26 and didn't know his whereabouts.
On June 29, Trout said, the Dexter Police Department put a photograph of Joshua Koonce on its Facebook page in an attempt to find him.
"There were several follow-up posts by individuals and in particular Brandon Koonce," Trout said. "Brandon replied and asked if his brother was a suspect.
"By reading the follow-up posts, it was obvious this was related to the recent homicide in Dexter."
After the Facebook post, Trout said, officers continued looking for Joshua Koonce, but were unable to find him.
"We were actively looking for him; we put out information through MIAC (Missouri Information Analysis Center) and all our means, and he was located in Pueblo, (Colo.)," according to Dexter Police Chief Trevor Pulley.
On July 3, Trout said, detectives received a call from Capt. Jim Martin with the Pueblo Police Department.
Trout said Martin reported there was a white male matching Joshua Koonce's description at what was described as a drug and alcohol detox center located in Pueblo.
"Capt. Martin stated Joshua checked in with a fictitious name and then attempted suicide by hanging himself," Trout said.
Martin, he said, asked for tattoo information to assist in further identification,
Information subsequently was gathered and sent to Pueblo officers, who confirmed the man was, in fact, Joshua Koonce, Trout said. The 30-year-old reportedly was in an intensive care unit at the hospital there.
On July 3, Trout said, officers again interviewed Brandon Koonce and his father, along with Eldreth, concerning Joshua Koonce's whereabouts.
"Brandon and David admitted to driving with Jared Eldreth to Pueblo, Colo., on the evening of June 28 (after the homicide) and returned home on July 1," Trout said. "They stated the purpose of their trip was to smoke legal marijuana."
During the interviews, Trout said, all three denied taking Joshua Koonce with them to Colorado.
On Tuesday, Trout said, Dexter Detective Cory Mills and Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper Matt Foster interviewed Joshua Koonce at the Colorado hospital.
"Joshua admitted to stabbing Jimmy Casey three times in the chest with a folding knife," Trout said. "Joshua admitted to breaking a living room window out to make it appear as if the incident was a burglary."
Joshua Koonce, according to Trout, further admitted to going back to the Sassafras Street home, where he "thought he left the knife and clothing inside the residence."
"Joshua said he told his brother, Brandon, what he did," Trout said. "Joshua stated he then fled to Colorado to avoid law enforcement."
Trout said Joshua Koonce told investigators his brother, dad and Eldreth "all drove him to Colorado to a friend's house. When asked, Josh stated they drove to Colorado in David's car."
Joshua Koonce remains in the Pueblo hospital at this time, but, Pulley said, extradition proceedings have began so he can be brought back to Missouri following his release.
Having been charged with the Class E felony of hindering prosecution, Brandon L. Koonce, 27, of the 500 block of Moore Street, David L. Koonce, 48, of the 400 block of South Park Lane and Eldreth, 28, of the 400 block of Glenstone Road are being held in the Stoddard County Jail on $12,500 cash bonds.
"We got the warrants yesterday around noon; they were arrested 24 hours prior to that" on Wednesday, Pulley said.