CARTHAGE, Mo. —
Mario Gonzalez was struck three times in the back of the neck with a machete that was recovered at the scene of his slaying, according to a probable-cause affidavit that became available Monday in Jasper County Circuit Court.
The affidavit was filed with the charging over the weekend of 45-year-old Juan Mendoza with second-degree murder in the killing of Gonzalez, 43, whose body was discovered April 25 near a camp along the banks of Spring River on the north side of Carthage.
The affidavit alleges that Mendoza killed Gonzalez by cutting the victim’s throat with a machete about 7 a.m. on April 24.
The defendant, who was arrested Friday, admitted that a machete found at the scene belonged to him, the affidavit states. Crime lab technicians with the Missouri State Highway Patrol have confirmed the presence of human blood on the weapon, the affidavit states.
An autopsy performed in Columbia by the Boone County medical examiner determined that Gonzalez died of injuries to his neck. The affidavit states that the autopsy revealed that he had been struck with the weapon three times in the back of the neck. The medical examiner found no defensive wounds on the victim or any other signs of a struggle preceding the fatal blows.
Although Mendoza admitted that the machete belonged to him, he has not admitted killing Gonzalez or having any sort of struggle with him, Carthage police Chief Greg Dagnan told the Globe on Monday. Dagnan declined to discuss whether Mendoza acknowledged having any dispute with Gonzalez or what investigators believe took place between the two men before the slaying.
The affidavit states that a third man, Teodoro Paxtor-Ramos, told investigators that Gonzalez and Mendoza were the only ones in the area of the camp when he left on April 24. When he returned a short time later, Gonzalez was dead and Mendoza was gone, Paxtor-Ramos told police.
Dagnan said investigators are trying to determine if there were any eyewitnesses to the crime. The police chief said the area in question along the river has been somewhat mischaracterized as a “homeless camp.” He said almost all the people who have frequented the camp are not homeless and have addresses where they stay.
The defendant in the murder is not the same Juan Mendoza who was involved in the investigation of the Eddie Salazar murder case from two years ago, according to police. At one point during the investigation of the purported abduction of the Salazar baby, the father told investigators that he had reason to believe that a man named Juan Mendoza may have taken the boy. Police located the Juan Mendoza in question and cleared him of any involvement in the crime.
Eddie Salazar Sr. was sentenced last week to life in prison on a conviction for second-degree murder in the death of his son.
Dagnan said the defendant in the Gonzalez murder is not the same man.
“This Juan Mendoza has only been in the Carthage area for a short time — a few months,” Dagnan said. “So (he is) not from the area and (is) no relation.”
No struggle
AN AUTOPSY on Mario Gonzalez found no signs of struggle, suggesting that he may not have seen the fatal blows coming.
Local News
Police: Carthage murder victim’s throat cut with machete
- Local News
-
-
Old McDonald County Courthouse to hold grand opening celebration this weekend
As Jean Stratton-Bird made her way into the war memorial room at the Old McDonald County Courthouse on Thursday, she came face to face with the memories of her brother Eldon E. Stratton, who was lost in battle in 1943 during War World II. “He is finally home,” Stratton-Bird said.
-
Murder warrant issued in fatal domestic shooting
Police believe Doyle Handle shot himself after fatally shooting Dena Davenport during a domestic disturbance Thursday night at their residence in Grove. Officers responded to a 6:55 p.m. report of a shooting at the couple’s home on Wood Street on the southwest side of Grove and found Handle, 52, in the front yard with a gunshot wound to his jaw.
-
Local lawmakers review session accomplishments
Joplin area lawmakers cited accomplishments and disappointments in the just-concluded Missouri legislative session during a brunch Friday sponsored by the Neosho Chamber of Commerce. Measures benefiting veterans issues were addressed in the session that ended a week ago, along with work force and labor issues, lawmakers said.
-
Diamond High School band prepares for Liberty Bowl
Classes were winding down last week at Diamond High School, but not for members of the marching band. Instead, they dug out some new music and began their first rehearsals in preparation for their next major appearance — the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, which is scheduled for Dec. 31 in Memphis, Tenn.
-
Joplin photo rescue effort gears up to help Moore storm victims
A photo rescue operation based in Carthage that helped salvage and return thousands of pictures after the 2011 tornado in Joplin is reaching out to storm victims in Moore, Okla.
-
Stream sampling in Jasper County finds elevated levels of E. coli
Stream sampling conducted just before the Memorial Day weekend by the Jasper County Health Department found elevated levels of E. coli in every stream and river tested. Twenty-one sites were tested on May 22, following heavy rains earlier in the week.
-
Missouri Prairie Foundation plans BioBlitz for June 1-2 at prairies in Barton, Vernon counties
The Missouri Prairie Foundation’s Denison and Lattner prairies in Vernon and Barton counties will be the focus on Saturday and Sunday, June 1 and 2, of the fourth annual Prairie BioBlitz.
-
Families, friends invited to honor veterans with flags this weekend
Small lengths of plastic pipe have been installed behind the headstones of veterans graves in Joplin cemeteries so that every veteran will have a flag on Memorial Day.
-
Mike Pound: Writing column like making pasta
It’s Friday afternoon as I’m typing this and my wife is worried. She’s not worried about what I’m typing; she gave up worrying about that a long time ago. Besides, my wife knows that even though I’m typing right now, I likely don’t have a clue what I’m writing.
-
Events, activities to honor veterans planned in Joplin area on Monday
No Memorial Day ceremonies are planned at Joplin cemeteries this year or at Mount Hope Cemetery in Webb City, but a number of other events are scheduled in cities around the region.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Old McDonald County Courthouse to hold grand opening celebration this weekend
