Mountain Home man arrested for Missouri homicide

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     A Mountain Home man is accused of killing and robbing a man last week in Pulaski County, Missouri. According to Springfield television station KSPR, 47-year-old Michael Talley was charged Friday with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, robbery and burglary.

     Talley tells authorities he went to the home Keith Bridwell August 5th in Big Piney with the intention of beating Bridwell to death with a baseball bat, but another man was in the residence at the time. Talley went back to the residence the next day and shot Bridwell. Talley says he shot Bridwell again the side as he was trying to get away. As Bridwell stumbled into the bathroom and fell, Talley says he followed him, put a towel over his head and shot him a third time at close range.

     According to a news release from Pulaski County Sheriff Ron Long, Talley and a woman were arrested by the Springfield Police Department Wednesday after they were called to the Home Depot where the duo were allegedly attempting to steal merchandise. The woman, 26-year-old Lindsay Debault, had an outstanding warrant out of Pulaski County. After Talley and Debault were arrested, an explosive device was discovered in their vehicle.

     Sheriff Long says detectives traveled to Springfield from Waynesville and obtained additional evidence and statements. An arrest warrant was issued for Talley after he was charged by Pulaski County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Hillman. During Thursday’s execution of a search warrant, additional explosive devices were located in the vehicle, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were called in to assist in the investigation.

     Debault is in custody for outstanding warrants in Pulaski and Webster Counties for other offenses. Sheriff Long says he’s anticipating she and Talley will both face additional charges for offenses they are accused of committing in multiple jurisdictions pertaining to the Bridwell homicide investigation.

     A third person of interest, 31-year-old Travis Melton, was arrested Friday in Phelps County for multiple outstanding felony warrants. In one of the warrants, Melton was accused of threatening to shoot Bridwell with a firearm last year, and he is being questioned about last week’s homicide.

     Sheriff Long adds a fourth individual is in the Pulaski County Jail after being arrested at the murder scene August 6th. Twenty-three-year-old Lunden Davis is charged with second-degree burglary and tampering with evidence. His bond is at $100,000.

     Talley is currently incarcerated with bond set at $2 million. Sheriff Long says the investigation is continuing, and he expects additional charges to be filed in the near future.




   

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