Shelby Couch, of Thayer, was found guilty of second-degree murder, robbery in the first degree, armed criminal action and first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle. A bench trial was held in Howell County with Judge Michael Martin Pritchett presiding.
During the trial, the state presented testimony and exhibits into evidence and the defendant chose not to testify. The verdict was given on Friday, Oct. 30.
Sentencing has been scheduled to be held on Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 9 a.m. Couch was arrested and charged in February 2018.
According to a Oregon County Sheriff’s Office press release: Couch was arrested following an investigation “that began on Feb. 20, 2018 when the OCSO, in conjunction with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, looked into the suspicious death of Walter “Red Feather” Earls, of Thayer.”
The death of Earls was ruled to be a homicide after autopsy results were released on Friday, Feb. 23, 2018. Investigators with the Oregon County Sheriff’s Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested Couch near Seymour. There, investigators, in conjunction with the Seymour Police Department and Webster County Sheriff Roye Cole, recovered Earls’ vehicle and made the arrest.”
Couch was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and tampering with a motor vehicle.
