Arrest Warrants Preceded Murder, Suicide

"St. Francois County, MO - Michael C. Johnson, 23, allegedly shot Gary Mayer, 61, Monday afternoon when Mayer went to help his daughter move out of a house in St. Francois County.

"Johnson fled from the scene in Mayer's black Jeep Wrangler, authorities said.

"On Monday night, Jefferson County deputies accompanied one of Mayer's family members to a home he owned in De Soto to retrieve some of his belongings. They spotted the Wrangler near the house.

"Members of the county's tactical team responded to the scene, forced entry and found Johnson's body inside. He had apparently hanged himself in the home, along Carroll Road.

"Arrest warrants had already been issued against Johnson for domestic violence and burglary. Mayer's daughter was the victim in Johnson's domestic violence case, said St. Francois County Sheriff Dan Bullock.

"St. Francois County police said they received a call about 1 p.m. Monday that someone was at the daughter's house along the 1800 block of Old Highway 8 near Gumbo, Bullock said. When officers arrived, Mayer was dead."

From STLtoday.com...