Tuesday, January 14th:
*Initial Appearance Hearing (@ 9am CT) - MO - Echo Michelle (White) Lloyd (47) was last seen in Edwards, Missouri on May 10, 2020 & Missouri State Highway Patrol says last seen May 14, 2020, Edwards, Benton County). Daughter reported her missing on May 15, 2020. [Charge is unrelated to Echo’s case] - *Joshua Dwain Smith (39?) arrested & charged (12/31/24) with 1st degree rape or attempted rape on 7/4/24. Benton County
Echo’s case: All belongings Echo would need to leave the house were still at her home — car, ID, cash, cards, her cigs were on the night stand next to her bed & her purse was on the bottom shelf of the night stand, where she usually keeps it. The only items missing were her keys, cell phone & prescription medication. The house was locked. Her daughter mentions that her mother’s pistol was outside. Her phone was not found, so it’s assumed it was with her at the time of her disappearance. She was last seen (5/10/20) at the Dollar General in Climax Springs & a receipt from Walmart dated 5/10/20 where she went with her neighbor. Lloyd hasn’t used her cell phone, credit cards, or filled prescriptions since her disappearance. The daughter talked with Echo on 5/9/20 & did not get a hold of her mother on Mother’s Day (5/10/20) & went by the house on 5/10/20 & left flowers & card; found her car gone & thought she was out, but stated her mother wouldn’t answer after that & eventually the phone went to voicemail between the 10th through 15th when she visited on 5/15/20 & called e PD. Neighbor had taken over Echo's house & car, telling her what to do. had gone to her daughter Kelsey's home a couple weeks prior before & spent the night. Echo was worried about the neighbor & talked to her daughter about it. Her daughter wanted her to stay with her, but she went back home determined to re-take control of her house, car, life, etc. Missouri State Highway Patrol says Echo was last seen on 5/14/22.
Rape Case info: In several phone conversations with [redacted] date of birth [redacted], and in an interview with [redacted victim's name] on [date redacted] told me [redacted] was locked in a garage from the night of July 3, 2020, by Smith until the morning of July 4, 2020, in [redacted] County. [Redacted] said while was locked in the garage Smith pointed a loaded gun to [redacted] face & said he had killed another & told [redacted] could be his next victim. [Redacted] said [redacted] had been up using methamphetamine with Smith for several days & was having a hard time staying awake. [Redacted] told me [redacted] was on a couch in the garage barely maintaining consciousness but was afraid to fall asleep because [redacted] feared Smith would kill [redacted]. [Redacted] said was tired & weak, and Smith picked [redacted] up, placed [redacted] in his truck, drove [redacted] to his house at [address redacted] Missouri, in Benton County where he raped [redacted]. [Redacted] said Smith forced [redacted] into his bed, and [redacted] said [redacted] was too weak to fight & was curled up in a ball. [Redacted] told me Smith pulled [redacted] shorts & [redacted] down & placed his penis in [redacted] from behind, and then ejaculated. [Redacted] said [redacted] believed that if [redacted] would have fought Smith, he would have killed [redacted]. [Redacted] said later that day Smith woke [redacted] up & told [redacted] [redacted] must take a shower. [Redacted] said Smith then drove [redacted] to [redacted] house. [Redacted] said Smith was not the father of [redacted] they were never in a romantic relationship, and that [redacted] never had consensual sex with Smith.
Judge James Owen Kjar. Prosecutor Rodney Eugene Richardson.
12/31/24 Docket updates: Warrant Issued. Doc. ID: 24-BEARW-177, for Joshua Dwain Smith [Echo’s neighbor]. Charges 1st degree rape or attempted rape om 7/4/24 (a conflicting date is given on the arrest warrant of 7/24/24. . Bond Amount: 75K Surety Only. Posted bond (1/7/25). Exhibit filed. Signed Exhibit A by Judge/Clerk. Per conversation with Judge Kjar please issue warrant for $75K surety Only. Probable Cause statement filed by Rodney Eugene Richardson. CRIFS/Unredacted document & complaint, Confidential filing info sheet, Exhibit filed by Rodney Richardson.
1/2/25 Docket update: Initial appearance. Next initial appearance hearing on 1/14/25 @ 9am with Judge James Owen Kjar presiding in Benton County Circuit Court. Warrant served. Prosecuting attorney Rodney Eugene Richardson.