DEXTER — The death penalty will be sought in a case against a Dexter man accused of running over his co-worker in November while under the influence of methamphetamine.
Boyd R. Lippoldt has a prior record of conviction for serious, assaultive criminal conviction, said Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver in court documents giving notice of the decision.
The murder of Frank Morris, 32, of Dexter on Nov. 5, was “outrageously or wantonly vile, horrible or inhuman in that it involved depravity of mind,” according to Oliver.
Oliver further believes the death penalty is appropriate because there allegedly was an attempt to conceal an offense and authorities believe it was committed to keep the victim from aiding in the prosecution of a felony charge. No further information about these statements were provided.
Lippoldt is next expected to appear in court March 7 for a case review. He has been charged with the Class A felony of first-degree murder, the unclassified felony of armed criminal action, the Class B felony of driving while intoxicated resulting in the death of another, the Class D felony of possession of a controlled substance and the Class E felony of tampering with physical evidence.
According to a probable cause statement in Lippoldt’s case, he notified 911 dispatch at around 4:43 p.m. Nov. 5, that he found his co-worker, Frank Morris, had been run over and was lying in the grass in front of B&B Truck on County Road 517.
According to reports, the Stoddard County Sheriff’s Department, Dexter Police Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Stoddard County EMS responded to the scene.
EMS requested air medical services and Morris was taken to SoutheastHEALTH in Dexter. Shortly afterward, he was pronounced dead.
Investigators at the scene, the probable cause statement said, found a red 2003 Chevrolet pickup belonging to Lippoldt at the business with blood and clothing attached. Subsequently, the Stoddard County Major Case Squad was activated.
During an interview at the scene with a trooper from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Lippoldt repeatedly admitted to running over Morris.
A small baggie suspected to be methamphetamine also was located in Lippoldt’s truck.
When questioned by Stoddard County Sheriff investigators, Lippoldt admitted to using methamphetamine with Morris earlier in the day.
According to Lippoldt, the two were working on the truck when it popped into gear, running over and dragging Morris.
After investigation, the probable cause stated, “Investigators concluded that Lippoldt’s version of events were not consistent with the physical evidence found at the scene.”
Investigators noted that, based on evidence found at the scene, they believed the impact occurred 50-70 feet in the grass from where Lippoldt described working on the truck in the gravel lot.
“There were obvious tire marks in the grass that assisted investigators in determining the point of impact,” according to law enforcement.