Callaway County Sheriff Dennis Crane confirmed Friday that there has been another homicide in Callaway County.
Crane said the Mid-Missouri Major Case Squad has been activated to assist with the investigation into the murder of Deborah A. Bates, 54, at her residence on the 1600 block of County Road 340 in Millersburg. This is the third homicide in the county in the past week.
"We had a suspicious death last night that we responded to. An autopsy was performed this morning and it was confirmed and ruled as a homicide," Crane said.
Crane said the homicide occurred sometime between the time an unrelated male, who also lives at the address, left the house at 6 a.m. Thursday and when he returned at 6:44 p.m. and discovered her body. Crane did not give the man's name, nor indicate whether he is a suspect, although he said the man has lived at the residence since for several years. The name Bryan Wiser appears on the mailbox along with Bates at her address.
There currently no suspects, although Crane acknowledged there are some "people of interest."
"Anybody with any information or who saw something strange in that neighborhood during that time period, we want them to call us," Crane said.
He said at this point authorities do not believe this murder is related to last Friday's double homicide in Auxvasse of Michael Wieberg, 56, and his daughter, Amanda Wieberg, 33. Amanda Wieberg has not been officially confirmed as the second victim in that homicide - which also included a fire at Michael Wieberg's home on County Road 1027 - but she was supposed to be at her father's home that night, and has not been in contact with friends or family since.
Anyone with information pertinent to either investigation is encouraged to contact the Callaway County Sheriff's Office at (573) 642-7291, or Callaway County Crime Stoppers at (573) 592-2474. Anyone with information regarding the Bates homicide also can call the Mid-Missouri Major Case Squad at (573) 592-2452.