Double homicide investigation underway in Reeds Spring

September 27, 2011 Local News 2 Comments

Double homicide investigation underway in Reeds Spring

Rescue workers from SSCFPD worked on the men for an hour, but were unable to save them. (click for full size photo)

Matt Selby, Stone County Prosecuting Attorney, looking to prosecute person responsible for supplying drugs for murder.

By Kathee Baird
Authorities in Stone County are treating the overdose deaths of two men found in a home near Kimberling City as homicides.
Stone County Sheriff’s Captain Tim Gideon says Robert Murray, 45, of Kimberling City and Mark Marshall, 46, of Sparta, were found dead in a house at 97 Terrace Crest Lane in Reeds Spring after they had allegedly purchased Fentanyl patches from a man who is now in custody for questioning.
Illicit use of pharmaceutical fentanyls first appeared in the mid-1970s in the medical community and continues in the present. United States authorities classify fentanyl as a narcotic. To date, more than 12 different analogues of fentanyl have been produced clandestinely and identified in the U.S. drug traffic. The biological effects of the fentanyls are similar to those of heroin, with the exception that many users report a noticeably less euphoric “high” associated with the drug and stronger sedative and analgesic effects.

Gideon says Murray and Marshall extracted the Fentanyl with a needle and then injected it causing their deaths.
Southern Stone County Fire Protection District crews, St.Johns EMS, St. Johns Lifeline, and Stone County Sheriff’s Department responded to the incident near State Highway OO near Kimberling City. First responders on scene found two unconscious males suspected of a possible overdose.

First responders found both men had overdosed.

Crews began CPR and continued for nearly an hour. Despite efforts, both patients were pronounced dead at the scene by Stone County Coroner Rick Stumpff.
Southwest Missouri Forensics will conduct autopsies on Murray and Marshall tomorrow in Springfield.
Stone County prosecutor Matt Selby says he is monitoring the investigation as authorities continue to gather evidence. Deputies and investigators have spoken with several parties throughout the day, before bringing the suspect into custody.

In court papers, Robert Wade Murray listed the Terrace Crest Lane address as his residence.
In 2007 he received 6 months SES, 2 yrs supervised probation with Court Supervision Services/5 days shock county jail after Branson West Police stopped him for Operated Motor Vehicle On Highway While Drivers License/Privlege Revoked in 2006.

Fentanyl is a potent synthetic narcotic analgesic with a rapid onset and short duration of action. It is a strong agonist at the ?-opioid receptors. Historically it has been used to treat breakthrough pain and is commonly used in pre-procedures as a pain reliever as well as an anesthetic in combination with a benzodiazepine.

Fentanyl is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine.