On 11/14/2024, Deputies from the Bates County Sheriff’s Office were called to a rural Rich Hill residence in reference to a deceased male. On arrival, Deputies confirmed a deceased male in the residence who had died from a single gun shot wound. The victim was identified as 48 year old Jerry McLay of Rich Hill Missouri. The Deputies immediately requested Detectives to the scene to begin the investigation. The death originally appeared to be a suicide but was classified as a suspicious death. As the Detectives continued to work the scene the direction of the case began to steer toward the potential of a homicide.
Over the last two months the Sheriff’s Office and Coroners
Office continued to work the case and follow up on leads. Approximately 10
search warrants have been executed in reference to this case. During the
investigation a suspect was identified. The suspect was a known associate of
Mr. McLay.
On 1/13/2025, Bates County Sheriff’s Deputies executed an arrest
warrant on David A Stewart at his residence at 203 W Chestnut Rich Hill Mo.
This arrest warrant was issued after the Bates Sheriff’s Office identified
Stewart as the suspect in a home burglary where firearms were stolen. Stewart
was identified as the subject who pawned those stolen guns in Nevada Missouri.
The Bates County Sheriff’s Office worked with the Vernon County Sheriff’s
Office, Nevada Police Department and the Vernon County Prosecutor’s Office to
get Stewart charged on his weapons charges. After the arrest at Stewart’s
residence, on 1/13/2025, the Bates County Sheriff’s Office executed a search
warrant on that residence. The Bates County Sheriff’s Office requested
assistance from the Lees Summit Police Department’s Bomb Squad, FBI and Rich
Hill Fire Department due to information developed during the investigation. A
previous search warrant was executed on Stewart’s vehicle and the Sheriff’s
Office recovered a suicide note stating that Stewart was going to detonate an
explosive device at his residence with the intent to kill as many deputies as
possible.
Today, 1/16/2025 the Bates County Prosecutor Hugh Jenkins
formally charged David Alan Stewart, 9/7/1984 with 1st Degree Homicide and
Armed Criminal Action. Bond was set by the Honorable Judge Julie Highley at $1,000,000
cash only. Stewart is currently being held in the Vernon County Jail on his
weapons charge and the Homicide warrant.
The Bates County Sheriff’s Office has been assisted by the
following agencies. Lees Summit Police Department Bomb Squad, FBI Field Office
out of Kansas City, Kansas City Police Department’s Crimes Scene Unit, Bates
County EMS, Bates County Coroner Greg Mullinax, Bates County Coroner Jerret
Reno, Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office, Vernon County Sheriff’s Office,
Nevada Police Department, Vernon and Bates County Prosecutors Offices, St Clair
County Sheriff’s Office, Rich Hill Police and Fire Departments.
Sheriff Anderson said, “This is the reason why we investigate
all deaths like they are homicides until we can prove different. This case has
been very labor intensive over the last two months. I am proud of the
determination and dedication of all my staff and all those agencies who worked
on this case as a team. Our sympathy goes out to the family of Jerry McLay. We
are far from Justice being served until this case is adjudicated through the
court system. We are still following up on leads and ask that if you have any
information regarding this homicide please reach out and contact a Detective at
660-679-3232”
No additional information will be released at this time due to
this still being an active investigation.
