Two men have been arrested in connection to a woman’s death in Shannon County.
In the early morning hours of April 2nd, 2020, the Birch Tree Fire Department was dispatched to a residential fire at 7176 S. Wall Street, in Birch Tree, Missouri. After extinguishing the fire, Authorities investigating the scene located the body of 77 year old Barbara Lynn.
With inconsistent evidence relating the time of death, to the initiation of the fire, the Shannon County Sheriff and Coroner Sam Murphy determined this case to be of a Suspicious nature. Upon further investigation, Sheriff Darrin Brawley, Murphy, and four State Fire Marshalls enlisted the services of the Division of Drug & Crime Control of the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Detective Rick Hamilton due to a possible link to other recent fires and activity within the same vicinity.
After an intensive investigation, pursuing the trail from the collection of evidence, numerous tips from citizens throughout the Birch Tree Community, and consistencies in timelines of activity, a suspect, 30 year old Stanley Kenaga, was located and taken into custody.
Charges have been filed against Kenaga, by the Prosecutor, for the 2nd Degree Murder Barbara Lynn, and 1st Degree Burglary, on a No Bond Warrant. Kenaga is being held at the Shannon County Jail.
Thursday afternoon an additional person, 23 year old Joseph Proffer of Birch Tree, was also charged with Murder in the 2nd Degree and 1st Degree Burglary. Proffer was arrested late Thursday near Licking.
