By Greg Grisolano
ggrisolano@joplinglobe.com
WASHBURN, Mo. — Three people are dead as a result of a shooting at a baseball field in Washburn on Friday night, according to a release from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
The victims — Carl D. Miller, 42, his ex-wife, Rhonda R. Miller, 39 , both of Washburn, and Donald F. Horton Jr., 45, of Bentonville, Ark. — were pronounced dead on the scene at 10:40 p.m. by Barry County coroner Skip White.
White said all three victims died of apparent gunshot wounds, and that at least two of the victims — Horton and Rhonda Miller — had been shot multiple times.
“On the other two victims, we saw multiple bullet wounds,” White said in a phone interview Saturday. “On Mr. Miller, I saw one wound.”
Neither White nor Sgt. Mike Watson of the Troop D in Carthage would comment on the possibility of a murder-suicide, pending results of the formal autopsy.
“If it turns out (Carl Miller) has multiple gunshot wounds, that changes the whole investigation,” White said.
Watson declined to comment on Saturday afternoon, citing the continuing investigation.
The Barry County Sheriff’s office declined comment Saturday, and referred questions to the Highway Patrol.
A highway patrolman discovered the bodies at around 10 p.m. Friday night while traveling through Washburn on Route 90, according to a release from the state patrol. The trooper stopped to investigate three vehicles parked at the Southwest School baseball fields, and discovered the bodies at a nearby picnic pavilion.
Watson confirmed the three vehicles belonged to the three victims.
Carl and Rhonda Miller reached a divorce settlement in December 2007, according to documents from Missouri’s CaseNet, a state Web site that lists court-case information. There were no criminal charges or any records of restraining or protective orders filed against the Millers or against Horton.
White said that Horton was a friend of Rhonda Miller, and that the shooting is believed to have taken place between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. on Friday.
White also stated that a handgun was found at the scene, but said it had not been determined if the firearm was used in connection with the shooting.
“At this point, the patrol is going to have to tell us if that was the weapon that was used,” he said.
Formal autopsies
Autopsies of the bodies were being performed on Saturday and results should be known by Monday.
