Local law enforcement and advocates for domestic violence victims are concerned, however, by an uptick in murder-suicides
by Jackie Rehwald January 2, 2026
On April 11, 2025 — just five days after she filed for divorce — Julie Kudrna was murdered by her husband.
Jeremy Kudrna had gone to his wife’s office on Kearney Street shortly after 11 a.m. that Friday and shot and killed her. He then turned the gun on himself.
“We know that leaving is the most dangerous time and leaving increases your risk of homicide by quite a bit,” said Jamie Willis, director of the Greene County Family Justice Center. “Seventy-five percent of domestic violence homicides happen while someone is leaving or shortly after.
“One of the reasons that leaving is the most dangerous time is because abusers have a perceived loss of control,” Willis said. “If a victim has recently gotten an order of protection, or if there’s been recent criminal charges or a victim has recently filed for divorce, that can sometimes kind of escalate the abuser’s tactics to try and regain power and control.”
Julie Kudrna’s murder was the fourth homicide investigation for Springfield police in 2025, a year in which the number of homicides was down from previous years.
Springfield police investigated 10 homicides in 2025.
In 2024, there were 14 homicides, and there were 19 homicides in Springfield in 2023.
Springfield’s decreasing homicide rate mirrors a nationwide trend.
Domestic violence ‘risks of lethality’
While the number of homicides is down, 2025 also saw a higher percentage of murder-suicides. There were three incidents of murder-suicide in Springfield in 2025, claiming the lives of four victims and three perpetrators.
Each of those murder-suicides involved a man killing his female partner or wife and then turning the gun on himself. In one of those cases, the perpetrator also shot and killed his wife’s daughter.
“It’s important to talk about warning signs, or what we call risks of lethality,” Willis said. “We know with domestic violence that it tends to escalate over time, both in frequency and severity.”
Other “risks of lethality” in domestic violence relationships, Willis explained, include an increase in extreme jealousy or possessiveness, particularly when the abuser is stalking or surveilling the victim.
“Nationwide studies show that if a victim is stalked by their abuser, that they’re several times more likely to be killed,” Willis said. “Strangulation is another risk factor for lethality. It increases your risk of lethality by 750%. … Strangulation is the highest predictor of lethality in domestic violence cases.”
Access to firearms increases lethality, Willis said, adding that guns are the most-used weapon for homicide or murder-suicide in domestic violence cases.
“Previous threats of weapons or previous threats of suicide is also a predictor of lethality,” Willis said.
Domestic violence puts police in danger
Willis spoke about how dangerous domestic violence calls are for law enforcement, because by the time someone has called 911, “things have already gotten to a crisis level.”
“Often they are entering a really volatile situation where there could be weapons present,” Willis said. “A lot of times, there’s children present. So there’s just a lot of things going on and a lot of things to navigate.”
The Greene County Family Justice Center is a one-stop shop resource center for victims of any kind of abuse. All services are free and confidential, and there’s no limit to the number of times a person can seek help or information. The Family Justice Center is staffed by representatives from law enforcement, the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office, the Missouri Children’s Division, legal services and advocates from the Victim Center and Harmony House.
“We can help people no matter where they are in their relationship,” Willis said. “Sometimes the survivors we work with aren’t ready to leave. They just want to talk about safety while they stay in the home, and we’re happy to help them safety plan around that.”
Homicide victims knew suspects
Of the 10 homicide victims in Springfield this past year, nine died due to gunshot wounds.
With the exception of the Feb. 16 homicide (which prosecutors ruled a justified shooting in which a police officer shot an armed suspect who refused to comply with officers’ commands), all of the 2025 victims knew the suspects. Essentially, police say there were no stranger-to-stranger murders in Springfield in 2025.
Springfield Police Chief Paul Williams noted the lack of “random” violence in the city during a recent interview with the Daily Citizen.
“Springfield is a very safe community for the general public,” Williams said, referring to the victims having known the perpetrators or suspected perpetrators. “There is an interpersonal relationship between them.”
Williams acknowledged that Springfield has its fair share of gang members, but said he believes they are mostly “loosely affiliated” associates who often switch from gang to gang.
“We don’t have what a lot of communities might have of gang-related violence or unknown assailants or people that have never met each other or collateral injuries from a crime,” he said. “We have young thugs who have a criminal intent, who use guns and commit violence and are loosely affiliated.”
Chief: No unsolved homicides this year
Williams also noted that all criminal suspects from the 2025 homicides have been arrested and charged. He credited the department’s “dedicated, experienced” investigators.
“When a homicide occurs, we have what we call the Homicide Response Team. We pull investigators from every investigative unit,” Williams said. “They come together when a homicide happens. We double and sometimes triple the staff that’s deployed as opposed to any other violent crime.
“It’s not a cliche — it’s proven true — solving a homicide within the first 48 hours is the most important time,” he said. “The clock is ticking in that first 48 hours.”
Recent advances in technology have also made a big difference in the department’s ability to solve homicide cases. Williams spoke about the benefits of officer’s body cameras and the “vast array” of surveillance cameras, both publicly and privately owned, and traffic cameras throughout Springfield.
SPD also now has access to rapid DNA testing, Williams said. While the rapid test results are not admissible in court, and investigators still rely on traditional DNA lab tests for prosecution, being able to include or eliminate potential suspects and evidence early on has been a game-changer, Williams said.
“We do a very, very good job investigating and solving homicides — a 90% success rate every year,” Williams added. “Homicide is that one thing you can’t hide and there is no statute of limitation. We never stop investigating (unsolved cases).”
Springfield’s 2025 homicides:
Jan. 1 — David Franklin
The first homicide of the year happened around 2 a.m. on New Year’s Day outside of Club Rodeo on West Bennett Street. David Franklin, 23, died of a gunshot wound.
The man suspected of pulling the trigger, 22–year-old Marquese Gaten was arrested soon after the shooting. Gaten was not charged with murder. Instead, Gaten is charged with the Class D felonies of stealing a firearm and of stealing $750 or more and three counts of misdemeanor tampering with physical evidence.
Those charges stem from Gaten allegedly taking Franklin’s firearm and cellphone from the scene, as well as his own firearm, and attempting to conceal them.
According to the probable cause statement, about two hours after police found Franklin in the parking lot at 1919 W. Bennett St. with a gunshot wound, Gaten arrived at the scene to turn himself in to police. He was transported to police headquarters and interviewed.
Gaten told police that he and Franklin first saw each other that evening at Club Rodeo. Gaten said Franklin had been threatening him throughout the evening and brandished a handgun on multiple occasions, the statement says.
Gaten said the two men went across the street, and that Franklin — according to Gaten — walked toward Gaten and held his gun in an upward motion. At that time, Gaten said he shot his firearm twice and Franklin fell to the ground, according to the statement.
Gaten is free on bond. He is scheduled for a case management conference on Feb. 6, 2026 in Judge Kaiti Greenwade’s courtroom.
Feb. 9 — Phillip Farley
Phillip Farley, 45, was Springfield’s second homicide victim in 2025. Farley was stabbed to death around 9 p.m. on Feb. 9, in the West Central neighborhood. Springfield police found Farley’s body on the ground near the street at 1315 W. College St. He had been stabbed multiple times, including once through the heart.
The main suspect, 49-year-old Matthias Jones, is charged with first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, kidnapping and failure to register as a sex offender.
Nikki Stark, 28, of Willard, was also identified as a suspect in Farley’s death. Stark is charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action and kidnapping.
Much of the assault on Farley was captured on surveillance video. According to a report written by an officer who viewed the surveillance video, Farley can be heard pleading with his attacker in the moments before his death, saying: “I promise, on everything I love.”
The video shows Farley walking on Fort Avenue at 8:32 p.m. that night and he was being followed closely by two suspects who appeared to be directing him.
According to the prosecutor’s request for a warrant, Jones allegedly forced Farley to lead him to Farley’s belongings. When Farley tried to run, Jones allegedly grabbed Farley by his jacket and then stabbed Farley.
Surveillance video appears to show Jones assaulting Farley multiple times. In between the assaults, Farley tried to get away. Court documents say a second person believed to be Stark approached Jones after the assault and could be heard asking, “How bad did you get him?”
Farley had been unsheltered on and off for years and struggled with his physical and mental health. He was described as a “loner” with a calm disposition and a kind and generous heart.
Like Farley, both Jones and Stark had been homeless in Springfield for the past several years. They remain in the Greene County Jail awaiting trial.
Feb. 16 — Tyler Dillon
Tyler Dillon, 30, was shot by a Springfield police officer on Feb. 16. He died in the hospital on March 25.
Greene County Prosecutor Dan Patterson ruled the officer’s use of deadly force was justified, and the officer who shot Dillon was released to active duty.
Springfield police officers responded around 10:40 p.m. Feb. 16 to 3405 E. Lomita St., across the street from Glendale High School, for a domestic disturbance where Dillon was armed with a gun, according to a news release.
When officers arrived, Dillon was standing in the driveway, according to the release. An officer gave Dillon verbal commands, but Dillon refused to comply. The officer shot Dillon and life-saving measures were immediately provided. Dillon was transported to the hospital where he died weeks later. No officers or bystanders were injured.
April 11 — Julie Kudrna
Julie Kudrna was murdered by her husband on April 11. Jeremy Kudrna then turned the gun on himself.
They were both 52 and had been married about 30 years. They had two adult children.
Julie Kudrna had filed for divorce a few days before she was killed.
Kudrna’s obituary described her as a woman with a “heart for people” and an “unwavering dedication to her family.”
“Above all, Julie’s life was anchored by her faith and her boundless love for her family. She poured herself out for the people she cared about, always putting their needs ahead of her own, regardless of time or resources,” the obituary reads, in part. “Her generosity, compassion, and selflessness defined her, and those who knew her were better for it.”
Cathy Ritter-Hertzog, Julie Kudrna’s cousin, said the two women grew up together in the little town of Climax Springs, just west of Lake of the Ozarks.
“She was a sweet, kind person, and never had a bad word to say about anyone,” Ritter-Hertzog told the Daily Citizen. “She was loved by everybody in the community.”
April 15 — Katrina Dotson
Just a few days after Julie Kudrna was killed by her husband, another murder-suicide claimed the life of Katrina Dotson.
Officers were dispatched just before 4 p.m. April 14 to the John B. Hughes complex on the northwest side of town for a check well-being.
When officers arrived, they found two adults — Andrew Calton, 21, and Katrina Dotson, 21 — deceased in an apartment, according to a news release from the department.
Police believe Calton shot and killed Dotson and then killed himself.
Four juveniles were in the apartment at the time, but they were not injured.
June 22 — Lavontae Bennett
Lavontae Bennett, 19, was fatally shot around 4 a.m. June 22 while attending a gathering at Bodee Melton’s home in northwest Springfield.
Melton, 22, has since been charged with the Class A felony of first-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon.
Court documents say there was a disturbance outside of the home, but the disturbance appeared to have de-escalated as Melton, Bennett and another individual went back inside the home.
Once inside, documents say Melton pointed a gun at Bennett and the other person as they tried to calm him down.
Prosecutors say Bennett took a step toward Melton with his hands up, and Melton allegedly shot him multiple times in the torso. After Bennett fell to the ground, prosecutors say Melton walked toward Bennett and shot him in the head.
Melton left the scene before officers arrived but later turned himself in. During an interview with a Springfield Police Department officer, court documents say Melton said he was in fear for his life but did not provide any further statements.
Melton is being held in the Greene County Jail without bond.
Melton is scheduled for a case management conference on March 6, 2026 in Judge Todd Myers’ courtroom. He is scheduled for a jury trial beginning July 20, 2026.
Aug. 24 — Jessica Parnell, Aaliyah Perkins
Jessica Parnell, 35, and her 13-year-old daughter, Aaliyah Perkins, were killed in a double-murder suicide in west Springfield on Aug. 24.
Springfield police say Ryan Parnell shot and killed his partner of a decade and her daughter and then set the house on fire. Parnell then turned the gun on himself. A number of pets were also found deceased.
Amanda Harley, Jessica’s sister, spoke with the Daily Citizen a few weeks later.
“This wasn’t just a crime of passion — this was a complete sociopath,” Harley told the reporter. “He shot all the animals — they did not die in the fire. They were all shot and executed and then he poured gasoline throughout the house.
“I think it’s important someone knows how bad it really is.”
Harley said the family had no idea Ryan Parnell was “capable of doing what he did.”
Following her sister and nieces’ deaths, Harley studied Jessica’s social media and text messages, putting together pieces of her life and looking for signs that family and friends might have missed. While signs of domestic abuse are rarely obvious, Harley said she can now see clear indications pointing to abuse.
“There were a lot of warning signs and things, and now I can say ‘Wow, that was a red flag,’” Harley had said. “I should have done more.”
Nov. 12 — Xavier Scott
Springfield police responded to a shots-fired call at 11:21 p.m. Nov. 12, at The 505 apartment building downtown and found 28-year-old Candice Hoskins, who was injured, outside the apartment building and 21-year-old Xavier Scott deceased inside a fourth-floor apartment.
According to the probable cause statement, Scott was with a woman, who is Hoskins’ ex-girlfriend, at the apartment complex. Hoskins had contacted that woman earlier that night, wanting to pick up some of her belongings, including a piece of mail and a blanket.
The woman told Hoskins she would meet Hoskins outside of the apartment building. But before the woman and Scott were able to make it outside, a 505 resident allowed Hoskins to enter the secured lobby and another resident allowed Hoskins onto the elevator. Court records state Hoskins was in an “intoxicated state” and carried a Glock .45 caliber pistol in her hoodie pocket.
Based on surveillance video from inside the apartment building, the three people argued in the hallway, and Hoskins and Scott got into a physical altercation. At some point while they wrestled on the floor, police say Hoskins shot Scott. Hoskins then rolled Scott’s body off of her, stood up and then shot Scott in the face, according to the probable cause statement.
Hoskins is charged with second-degree murder – felony murder, armed criminal action and two counts of first-degree robbery.
Francine Pratt, co-lead of the Gun Safety Violence Reduction Collaborative, spoke to KOLR10 after learning of Scott’s death. Pratt said she had known Scott for years and called his death devastating.
“I knew Xavier before getting involved with this work. He was like a son to me, and so it is devastating and it’s troubling,” Pratt told KOLR10. “I really liked what he brought to the collaborative. I mean, he sat right at the table with community leaders, civic leaders, and he was able to give us insight on how to best reach young adults and young people and to understand some of the issues that they were working through.”
Nov. 18 — Delquan Scott
According to a witness who was sleeping in another room when 21-year-old Delquan Scott was fatally shot on the morning of Nov. 18, the man suspected of pulling the trigger had been using “whippets” and smoking marijuana earlier.
Police believe Scott was also sleeping when he was shot by his friend, 23-year-old Deandre Jonas of Springfield.
Jonas is charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, abandonment of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence.
Jonas was arrested around noon on Nov. 18, following an hours-long standoff with police. Officers were dispatched to the Old Monterey apartments in the 300 block of East Montclair Street at 7:10 a.m. for a report of shots fired with someone injured.
When officers arrived on scene, they found Scott’s body in a trash dumpster at the apartment complex. Court documents say Scott appeared to have at least one gunshot wound to the head.
The witness told police Jonas admitted he shot Scott and that Jonas wanted the witness to help move the body. The witness refused, fled the apartment and called 911.
According to the witness, the three men had been hanging out together the previous night. The witness stated he went to sleep in another room and awoke to a loud noise, like a gunshot. The witness said he then saw Jonas outside of the other bedroom, pacing back and forth with a gun in his hand.
When the witness asked Jonas what happened, Jonas allegedly said he shot Scott because of his “impulsive thoughts.”
Scott was from Davenport, Iowa, and was in Springfield visiting friends. According to a GoFundMe page set up to raise funds to transport Scott’s back back to Iowa and pay for a memorial service, Scott had recently become a father to a baby boy.
“We were distraught to learn that someone he knew took his life while he was asleep,” Scott’s grandmother wrote on the page. “This devastating loss was sudden and unexpected, and our family is struggling to make sense of this or what’s next for us.
“Delquan was loved, cherished,” she wrote, in part. “He was smart, funny and kind. He took on his role of being the older brother and wore it like a badge of honor. His loss has left an irreplaceable void in our family.”
Jackie Rehwald
Jackie Rehwald is a reporter at the Springfield Daily Citizen. She covers public safety, the courts, homelessness, domestic violence and other social issues. Her office line is 417-837-3659. More by Jackie Rehwald
