Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis

Man slain, woman injured in shooting outside Overland home

OVERLAND • A man was fatally shot  and a woman was injured as they sat in a car outside a friend's home in Overland on Tuesday night, police say.

No arrests have been made.

Overland Police Chief Michael Laws said the 19-year-old man died at a hospital shortly after the 9:30 p.m. shooting in the 9900 block of Baltimore Avenue. A neighbor who heard the shots called police.

The man was shot more than once, Laws said. His name has not been released.

Laws said he did not know the woman's medical condition. She also was shot more than once but, at the scene, she was walking around after being shot, Laws said.

Laws asked the Major Case Squad to help with the investigation, and the squad of detectives is being headed by Capt. Charles Milano of the Des Peres Police Department.

On Wednesday morning, Laws said police are following numerous leads but haven't identified a suspect yet.

Laws said it's "too early to tell for sure" if the victims were targeted.

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/man-slain-woman-injured-in-shooting-outside-overland-home/article_8a6d5ec6-4cea-11e1-b823-001a4bcf6878.html#ixzz1lC7a3WCY

 

Police: Marital problems led to stabbing death of Lincoln County woman

BY SUSAN WEICH • sweich@post-dispatch.com > 636-255-7207

LINCOLN COUNTY • Murder victim Elizabeth "Betsy" Faria feared her husband and was about to remove him as the beneficiary of her life insurance policies, according to documents obtained Thursday from the Lincoln County courthouse.

Russell Scott Faria, 41, was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. He was being held in lieu of $1 million cash-only bail in the county jail.

A friend of the murdered woman told police that Betsy Faria was becoming "increasingly uncomfortable" with her husband and was thinking about leaving him. A week before her murder, Russell Faria put a pillow over his wife's face and told her "that was what it would feel like to die," the friend told police.

The friend also said Betsy Faria was planning to change the beneficiary of her insurance policies — estimated to be worth between $300,000 and $400,000. At the time of her death, her husband was the primary beneficiary, according to court documents.

An autopsy revealed that the cause of Faria's death was a combination of injuries that included more than 25 stab wounds. She had been lying on the couch in the living room when the attack happened, police said.

During a search of the Faria residence on Sumac Drive near Troy, police found blood on a baseball cap that Russell Faria was seen wearing in surveillance footage from the places he had visited the night of the murder.

In addition, a blood smear was found on a light switch plate in the master bedroom, and his slippers with blood on them were in the walk-in closet of the bedroom.

Police also found a second knife not used in the killing. It was hidden under the pillow that Betsy Faria was using when she was lying on the couch.

Police say Faria, 42, was found dead at 9:40 p.m. Dec. 27 in the home.

Russell Faria was charged the day after her funeral. One family friend described a wake and funeral that were filled with tension because of suspicions about Faria's involvement in his wife's death.

Faria had been taken into police custody last week and held for several hours, but he was released without any charges being filed.

The Farias had been married for about 12 years, family members said. Betsy Faria had two daughters from a previous relationship.

Betsy Faria's mother, Janet Meyer, said Thursday that she was in shock about the charges against her son-in-law.

"I can't believe this is happening," she said. "I'm numb about the whole thing."

Family and friends have said Betsy Faria will be remembered for caring about others and her positive attitude despite her ongoing struggle with cancer.

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/stcharles/police-marital-problems-led-to-stabbing-death-of-lincoln-county/article_46a65689-7fd2-57e8-a320-03c1958e41f1.html#ixzz1iiGDZKyH

Troy, Mo., man charged with fatally stabbing his wife

TROY, Mo. • One day after friends and family paid their final respects to Elizabeth "Betsy" Faria, police arrested her husband for her murder.

Russell Scott Faria, 41, was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. Authorities declined to discuss a motive for the killing. Faria was being held in lieu of $1 million cash-only bail in the Lincoln County Jail.

Police say Faria, 42, was found dead at 9:40 p.m. Dec. 27 in her home in the 100 block of Sumac Drive. She had been stabbed multiple times with a knife from the kitchen.

Police have not released any other details of the crime, but one family friend described a wake and funeral that were filled with tension because of suspicions about Russell Faria's involvement in his wife's death. Faria had been taken into police custody last week and held for several hours, but he was released without any charges being filed.

The Farias had been married for about 12 years, family members said. Betsy Faria had two daughters from a previous relationship.

Besty Faria's mother, Janet Meyer, declined to comment about the charges against her son-in-law, other than to say: "I can't handle it; I've been close to him as well."

Meanwhile Betsy Faria was remembered for her caring spirit and positive attitude, especially as it related to her two-year struggle with cancer.

Meyer said her daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago, and found out in October that the disease had spread to her liver. She was undergoing chemotherapy and had gotten a treatment just a few hours before she was killed.

Meyer said her daughter was supposed to find out last week whether the treatment was working.

She didn't really want to talk about the cancer, and she absolutely would not discuss dying," Meyer said.

Friend Susan-Marie Prouty said when she would express concerns about Faria's health, Faria downplayed her condition and tried to make Prouty feel better.

Faria owned Party Starters DJ Service, and Prouty said she had an outgoing personality and tried to make sure everyone was having a good time.

Faria also enjoyed playing tennis, her mother said, and participated in tournaments all over the metro area.

"That was her life, her tennis," she said. "It kept her going."

Pastor Mike Schreiner of Morning Star United Methodist Church in Dardenne Prairie said Faria worked with the youth ministry and also made meals weekly to take to women at a local shelter.

Schreiner said Faria, her husband and one of their daughters attended the church's Christmas Eve service and came up for prayer afterward.

"We had prayed together for good results from the PET scan, so to hear this was shocking," he said.

Schreiner, who conducted Faria's funeral on Tuesday, said she left "a legacy of joy, choosing the positive and serving others."

"When you were in Betsy's presence you always had a smile on your face, and you always left feeling better about yourself," he said.

Copyright 2012 STLtoday.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/troy-mo-man-charged-with-fatally-stabbing-his-wife/article_46a65689-7fd2-57e8-a320-03c1958e41f1.html#ixzz1ibYbpXIf

Russell Faria charged with Betsy Faria's murder

 

Lincoln County, MO (KSDK) - The husband of a woman found stabbed to death in her Troy, Missouri home last week has been charged with her murder.

Russell Scott Faria was arrested Wednesday by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office and charged with first degree murder and armed criminal action.

Faria's wife, Elizabeth "Betsy" Faria, was found in her home in the 100 block of Sumac Drive December 27 with multiple stab wounds.

The Major Case Squad was quickly activated to assist in the investigation. Over 100 leads were followed, and a search warrant was conducted on the Faria home.

Russell Faria was arrested Wednesday, December 28, and questioned about the murder. Investigators did not have enough evidence to charge him, and he was released 24 hours later.

On Tuesday, the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office continued their investigation at the home and collected enough evidence to charge Faria with murder.

He is currently held in the Lincoln County Jail on a $1,000,000 cash-only bond.

KSDK

 

Lincoln County prosecutors wait on DNA evidence in Betsy Faria murder case

 

By Mike Rush, KSDK

St. Louis (KSDK) - The Lincoln County Prosecutor says the Major Case Squad will work into the holiday weekend to try to charge someone in the murder of 42-year-old Betsy Faria.

Faria was stabbed to death with a kitchen knife in her home on Sumac Drive in Troy, Missouri Tuesday night. Her husband told authorities he came home from running errands and found her body. He called 911.

Investigators arrested a man Wednesday evening, but 24 hours later, they had to release him because there was not enough evidence collected to charge him with Faria's murder.

The Lincoln County Prosecutor hopes it's only a matter of time before she can charge him with murder. The prosecutor is fast tracking DNA and fingerprint tests as well as cell phone records.

Because the man has not been charged, NewsChannel 5 is not releasing his identity.

One of the Faria's neighbors, Jim Ditter, says he and others are concerned after the man arrested in connection with the murder was released.

"Well, we are wondering why he got released and we are concerned that he is out. I will tell you that," said Ditter. "If they're confident that it's him, you know, I'm hoping that they press. They've been out here this morning, they've already talked to me a couple of times," said Ditter.

One of the things Ditter says detectives asked him is if he had a motion camera installed in the woods to spot deer for hunting, presumably in case the camera caught someone going through the woods. Ditter said he did not.

Faria was 42-years-old, the mother of two girls and friends say she was battling cancer.

 

Suspect in custody in death of Troy, Mo., woman

 

TROY, Mo. • A subject has been taken into custody in connection with the apparent murder of a 42-year-old Troy, Mo., woman found in her home Tuesday night, authorities said.

Lt. Bill Sutton of the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department said no charges had yet been filed and the county prosecutor's office is reviewing the case.

Sutton said preliminary autopsy results indicate that Faria died from "stab-type wounds."

He said there was no sign of forced entry into the home and no items were reported missing. He also said there was no evidence of sexual assault.

The case is being "looked at as a homicide, at this time," Sutton said. He said about 20 investigators from the area's Major Case Squad are continuing to follow up leads in the case.

Faria was found in her home in the 100 block of Sumac Drive about 9:40 p.m. Tuesday.

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/suspect-in-custody-in-death-of-troy-mo-woman/article_01e7ef80-324b-11e1-9d0e-001a4bcf6878.html#ixzz1hxiKlFwi

Elizabeth Faria found dead in Troy, Missouri home

Lincoln County, MO (KSDK) - Lincoln County Sheriff's Deputies were called to a Troy, Missouri home Tuesday for a suspicious death.

The victim, identified as 42-year-old Elizabeth Faria, was found in a home in the 100 block of Sumac Drive.

When authorities arrived around 10 p.m. Tuesday they contacted the Lincoln County Criminal Investigations Division. Sheriff Krigbaum then activated the Major Case Squad.

An autopsy is currently underway on the victim to determine an official cause of death.

A neighbor says he last saw Faria on Christmas Eve, when she told him she was cancer free.

Authorities towed a Ford Explorer that was sitting in teh driveway, and a forensics truck sat outside as members of the Major Case Squad continued to collect evidence.

"It just leads me to believe that something, you know, bad did happen.  It wasn't an accident, and it wasn't, you know, natural causes.  Unfortunately to have this many people out here and the road blocked off," said another neighbor, Karla Newell.

Those who know her say Faria owned a DJ company.

KSDK

Major Case Squad activated after female found dead in Troy, Missouri home

Lincoln County, MO (KSDK) - Lincoln County Sheriff's Deputies were called to a Troy, Missouri home Tuesday for a suspicious death. The victim, a 42-year-old female, was found in a home in the 100 block of Sumac Drive. When authorities arrived around 10 p.m. Tuesday they contacted the Lincoln County Criminal Investigations Division. Sheriff Krigbaum then activated the Major Case Squad. An autopsy is currently underway on the victim to determine an official cause of death. The identity of the victim will be released once relatives have been notified. NewsChannel 5 has a crew on the scene and will provide more information on this story as details become available. KSDK

Major Case Squad investigating death of woman found in Troy, Mo., home

BY SUSAN WEICH • sweich@post-dispatch.com 

TROY, Mo. • The area's Major Case Squad is investigating the death of a 42-year-old woman who was found dead in a Troy home Tuesday.

Officials with Lincoln County Sheriff's Department identified her as Elizabeth Faria.

Faria was found in a home in the 100 block of Sumac Drive about 9:40 p.m. Police would not say whether she lived in the home.

Investigators described her death as suspicious and said an autopsy is being performed to determine her cause of death.

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/stcharles/major-case-squad-investigating-death-of-woman-found-in-troy/article_cfb30de0-3175-11e1-98d5-001a4bcf6878.html#ixzz1hwll7QWH

 

Police investigating Richmond Heights killing

RICHMOND HEIGHTS • The Major Case Squad is investigating the fatal shooting of a man Monday night in Richmond Heights.

Authorities have identified the man as Shaun Hitchens, 35, of the 1700 block of Banneker Avenue.

Hitchens was found fatally shot about 10 p.m. at his house in that block, authorities say. He died at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

Police provided no other details about the case.

Raleigh Johnson, 67, who lives across the street from Hitchens, said he heard a single shot Monday night and saw three people emerge from the home and drive off in a sport utility vehicle.

Johnson said he then ran across the street and found Hitchens in the backyard bleeding from a gunshot wound to his abdomen.

"He was dying when I got up there," Johnson said.

Johnson said there wasn't enough time to save Hitchens.

"He was too far gone," Johnson said.

Johnson said he didn't know Hitchens too well but said "he was a very nice kid. He always waved and showed respect."

Joel Currier covers breaking news for STLtoday.com and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/police-investigating-richmond-heights-killing/article_87d36a94-3155-11e1-9212-001a4bcf6878.html#ixzz1hrDknotJ