Houston, MO. – The charge of Armed Criminal Action has been dropped at the individual accused of murdering a Texas County man in 2007. Tommie Whetzell, age 63 of Liberal, Missouri, remains in police custody without bond on the charge of 1st Degree Murder and Discharge a Firearm at or from a motor vehicle for the death of Ricky Luebbert in November of 2007.
The initial investigation resulted in Whetzell being charged and convicted of a federal weapons violation. Whetzell remained a suspect in the open homicide case. Following an episode of the television program “Cold Justice”, enough additional information had been uncovered to officially charge Whetzell of the murder.
Whetzell’s attorney, Lacon Smith, stated that she is attempting to get Whetzell released on bond but the prosecution is tempted to pursue the death penalty. In Missouri, if a person is facing the death penalty, they are ineligible to receive bond. Smith stated that Judge John Berger gave Prosecutor Parke Stevens until the next court date, scheduled for August 23, to decide if they would pursue the death penalty or Judge Berger would consider bond for Whetzell.
