GUILTY MO - Cassidy Rainwater, 33, *GRAPHIC CONTENT* nude & caged in photos, Buffalo, 15 July 2021

[Betty P]

I hope they stay with it and he gets the death penalty.

What she must have been thinking and feeling being held in a cage drugged (probably for months) and then strangled.

She had no chance.

He must have thought no one would notice her missing - no one would care.

Sent her photo around on the dark web. Keep trophy pics on his phone.

He killed he like a wild animal / strung her body up on a gantry crane like deer meat and threw the rest of her out in the woods.

Labled the body parts he kept in a freezer (for god knows what) "7-24" - a number I know associate with Cassidy forever.

She wasn't even human in his eyes.

Then he and his best friend drove around at Walmarts looking for younger girls. Can you imagine if he wasn't caught?

Give him no mercy and let the town fall apart.

Sorry not sorry.

MOO

(information gathered from news source below).

Murder Charges Filed, Human Remains Found in Missouri Case That Fueled Gruesome TikTok Rumors

Two men charged with murder in the death of missing Missouri woman Cassidy Rainwater, as police release gruesome details of the crime scene.

www.rollingstone.com

Agree, they're both monsters who need to be banished to eternal damnation. There are probably other women who met the same horrible fate as Cassidy. But their other victims should be protected. I agree, the area needs to be purged of those monsters and the local institutions that, intentionally or otherwise, allowed it to continue and grow. Phelps and Norton probably weren't the only locals committing these crimes.

 

[Betty P]

James Phelps seeking change of venue in Cassidy Rainwater murder case

A man charged with kidnapping, murdering, and abandoning the corpse of a thirty-three-year-old woman was in court on Friday.There was a hearing in Dallas County

krcgtv.com

James Phelps had a pre-trial hearing today. His attorneys are asking for a change of venue. The current judge predicts Phelps trial should begin sometime in the fall of 2024 and will take about 3 weeks.

During Friday's hearing, the judge scheduled a change of venue hearing for April 21.

Dallas County Prosecutor Jonathan Barker said there are three possible locations for a change of venue: Boone, Clay, or Jackson Counties.

James Phelps' accomplice, Timothy Norton has a pre-trial hearing scheduled for next week - January 24

Dallas County man pleads not guilty in Cassidy Rainwater murder case

krcgtv.com

 

[?!?]

James Phelps seeking change of venue in Cassidy Rainwater murder case

A man charged with kidnapping, murdering, and abandoning the corpse of a thirty-three-year-old woman was in court on Friday.There was a hearing in Dallas County

krcgtv.com

James Phelps had a pre-trial hearing today. His attorneys are asking for a change of venue. The current judge predicts Phelps trial should begin sometime in the fall of 2024 and will take about 3 weeks.


James Phelps' accomplice, Timothy Norton has a pre-trial hearing scheduled for next week - January 24

Dallas County man pleads not guilty in Cassidy Rainwater murder case

krcgtv.com

Dallas County judge sets trial hearing for accused murderer Timothy Norton

A Dallas County man charged with kidnapping, murdering, and abandoning the corpse of a 33-year-old woman appeared in court Tuesday.Timothy Norton appeared in p

krcgtv.com

Norton’s next court appearance will be May 2 when a judge is scheduled to set his murder trial.

 

[MountainGal33]

James Phelps seeking change of venue in Cassidy Rainwater murder case

A man charged with kidnapping, murdering, and abandoning the corpse of a thirty-three-year-old woman was in court on Friday.There was a hearing in Dallas County

krcgtv.com

James Phelps had a pre-trial hearing today. His attorneys are asking for a change of venue. The current judge predicts Phelps trial should begin sometime in the fall of 2024 and will take about 3 weeks.


James Phelps' accomplice, Timothy Norton has a pre-trial hearing scheduled for next week - January 24

Dallas County man pleads not guilty in Cassidy Rainwater murder case

krcgtv.com

I guess the judge believes the evidence is overwhelming - funny to say it should take about 3 weeks...

I mean we all know the evidence is beyond overwhelming...

 

[?!?]

I guess the judge believes the evidence is overwhelming - funny to say it should take about 3 weeks...

I mean we all know the evidence is beyond overwhelming...

IMO, it SHOULD take about 3 MINUTES....

 

[Betty P]

IIRC, these are capital charges, with the defendant subject to the death penalty. Those trials have to be more thorough.

 

[MountainGal33]

IMO, it SHOULD take about 3 MINUTES....

EXACTLY!

 

[?!?]

IIRC, these are capital charges, with the defendant subject to the death penalty. Those trials have to be more thorough.

Well, OK.....FOUR minutes....

 

[JerseyGirl]

James Phelps' trial moved to Jasper County in case of Cassidy Rainwater death

The trial isn't expected to take place for about two more years.

www.news-leader.com

Porter anticipated Phelps' trial would occur in the summer of 2025, which would be four years after Rainwater's death.

Phelps is scheduled to be back in court May 19, while Norton is scheduled to be back in court May 2.

 

[TwinkieDefense]

April 28, 2023

Cassidy Rainwater murder suspect gets life in prison

DALLAS COUNTY, Mo. — James D. Phelps entered an Alford plea for a charge of first-degree murder in a Dallas County court today, April 28.

www.ozarksfirst.com

[…]

Phelps was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Prior to the plea, prosecutors were pursuing the death penalty.

[…]

 

[?!?]

April 28, 2023

Cassidy Rainwater murder suspect gets life in prison

DALLAS COUNTY, Mo. — James D. Phelps entered an Alford plea for a charge of first-degree murder in a Dallas County court today, April 28.

www.ozarksfirst.com

[…]

Phelps was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Prior to the plea, prosecutors were pursuing the death penalty.

[…]

Probably saves the County money...just my guess, but he probably won't last too long in prison.

 

[kimmo]

I'm glad he has a life sentence without the possibility of parole. He and Norton both deserved the death penalty though. Just horrid what Cassidy was put through.

A question regarding plea agreements, will the public still learn of the details in this case? There are still alot of unanswered questions. A whole house was burned to the ground along with evidence. I also can't imagine Cassidy being the first/only victim either, MOO.

 

[Dre]

I'm glad he has a life sentence without the possibility of parole. He and Norton both deserved the death penalty though. Just horrid what Cassidy was put through.

A question regarding plea agreements, will the public still learn of the details in this case? There are still alot of unanswered questions. A whole house was burned to the ground along with evidence. I also can't imagine Cassidy being the first/only victim either, MOO.

Agree with this entire post.
I believe he has had more victims, and that fire was very strategic. What a horrifying case

 

[Betty P]

I'm glad he has a life sentence without the possibility of parole. He and Norton both deserved the death penalty though. Just horrid what Cassidy was put through.

A question regarding plea agreements, will the public still learn of the details in this case? There are still alot of unanswered questions. A whole house was burned to the ground along with evidence. I also can't imagine Cassidy being the first/only victim either, MOO.

That‘s a really good question. The prosecutors and LE need to reveal the details of this case to the public. Given the history, it seems possible there have been other victims and other perps.
It seems likely that video and or photos of these horrific crimes have been shared on the internet. It would be good to have a report telling whether LE investigated the phones, computers, internet activity for these perps.

They also need a public discussion about the investigation into the fire at the crime scene - who set the fire.

JMO there’s still a lot of explaining needed from LE.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Phelps twice told investigators that Rainwater was staying with him but she had left for Colorado, according to court records.

Phelps’ house later burned to the ground in what investigators determined was arson.

Norton, who faces the same charges as Phelps, is scheduled for a court hearing on Tuesday.

Missouri man sentenced in death of caged, dismembered woman

A Missouri man was sentenced to life in prison without parole after entering an Alford...

www.bigrapidsnews.com

 

[the_p0ssum]

Well, now there won't be a trial for Phelps as he took an Alford Plea and life in prison. I'm not sure we'll ever learn all the details, or if there were other victims (sure seems to be a strange set of actions if this was their "first time").

 

[Betty P]

Well, now there won't be a trial for Phelps as he took an Alford Plea and life in prison. I'm not sure we'll ever learn all the details, or if there were other victims (sure seems to be a strange set of actions if this was their "first time").

Is it just me or is it a little odd that he was offered an Alford Plea?

James Phelps faced first-degree murder charges in Rainwater’s death in the summer of 2021. The Alford plea admits Phelps believes the state has enough evidence to convict him. A judge sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of probation and parole. Phelps has been taken to the Department of Corrections in Fulton.

An Alford Plea allows him to plead guilty while maintaining his innocence.

No Contest Pleas, Conditional Pleas, and Alford Pleas in Criminal Law Cases

A no contest plea may avoid collateral civil consequences, a conditional plea preserves an issue for appeal, and an Alford plea maintains the defendant's innocence.

www.justia.com

Why not just make him plead guilty? They certainly had overwhelming evidence against him. Perhaps he was refusing to plead guilty, but prosecution wanted to avoid a trial.

JMO, its very possible there were other victims and other perps or "spectators" involved. That's why someone set the torture house on fire after the arrests. JMO, Phelps wanted to bring up other guilty parties as part of his defense.

Norton is set to be in court today

 

[Betty P]

Now, Norton's file on Missouri Case.net shows he had a hearing at 1pm today. It's 1:08pm CST right now, so the hearing is already over or ongoing

https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/cases/searchDockets.do

More

05/02/2023 Criminal Setting Scheduled
Setting / Disposition
Scheduled For: 06/27/2023; 1:00 PM ; LISA CARTER HENDERSON; Dallas
Hearing Held
State by PA. Defendant in person and by Attorney Kirsch. Case docketed for setting / disposition 6/27/23 at 1:00 PM.
Scheduled For: 05/02/2023; 1:00 PM ; LISA CARTER HENDERSON; Dallas

Criminal Setting is scheduled for June 27, 2023

 

[pixiepixel]

Is it just me or is it a little odd that he was offered an Alford Plea?



An Alford Plea allows him to plead guilty while maintaining his innocence.

No Contest Pleas, Conditional Pleas, and Alford Pleas in Criminal Law Cases

A no contest plea may avoid collateral civil consequences, a conditional plea preserves an issue for appeal, and an Alford plea maintains the defendant's innocence.

www.justia.com

Why not just make him plead guilty? They certainly had overwhelming evidence against him. Perhaps he was refusing to plead guilty, but prosecution wanted to avoid a trial.

JMO, its very possible there were other victims and other perps or "spectators" involved. That's why someone set the torture house on fire after the arrests. JMO, Phelps wanted to bring up other guilty parties as part of his defense.

Norton is set to be in court today

I agree, IANAL but I have no idea why the prosecution would accept an Alford Plea here.

 

[pixiepixel]

Timothy Norton appears in Dallas County court in Cassidy Rainwater case; What’s next?

Norton faces murder, kidnapping, and abandonment of a corpse in the death of Cassidy Rainwater in the summer of 2021.

www.ky3.com

It seems that Norton is not going to take a plea like Phelps did (yet). Prosecutor says the trial will remain in Dallas County.