Norton stated, after entering the house, he held Cassidy’s legs down while Phelps strangled her and placed a bag over her head. Norton told FBI agents that Phelps had him come over while Cassidy was sleeping on the living room floor, so he had easy access to attack Cassidy. Norton confessed to the murder of Cassidy Rainwater. On Timothy Norton was interviewed by FBI agents. On Dallas County Deputy and an FBI agent interviewed James Phelps. Digital evidence revealed messages between James Phelps and Timothy Norton planning the murder of Cassidy Rainwater. The remains found in the freezer were confirmed by the crime lab to be Cassidy Rainwater. In total, over 200 pieces of evidence were recovered. Also recovered from the scene was digital evidence from electronic devices. Skeletal remains believed to be Cassidy were located on the adjacent property. Collected during this time was physical evidence including the gantry device, cage, and items from the freezer that appeared to be human flesh with a date written on them of 7-24. For the next seven days, investigators processed the entire crime scene. The search warrant was executed by Dallas County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of Greene County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit and the FBI. The search warrant was obtained through Dallas County Prosecutor Jonathan Barker and signed by the Honorable Judge Lisa Henderson.
Detectives placed Phelps under arrest and had him transported to the Dallas County Jail, while he remained on scene keeping the scene secure until a search warrant was obtained. Upon arriving, Detectives recognized items in Phelps back yard that coincided with the photos. On this same day, Dallas County Detectives responded to 386 Moon Valley Road.
The other photos depicted Cassidy’s body bound to a gantry crane, commonly used for deer processing, and her evisceration and dismemberment. The photos depicted a partially clothed female in a cage who we recognized as Cassidy. The FBI had received the photographs as a cyber-tip that was titled “Cassidy” by the person who sent them.
James phelps series#
On the FBI contacted Dallas County Detectives and provided a series of photographs. Phelps stated he had not seen Cassidy since. Phelps stated that about a month prior, Cassidy had met a vehicle at the end of the driveway and left in the middle of the night. Phelps repeated to the Detective that Cassidy had been talking about going to Colorado.
Phelps told the Detective that Cassidy had been staying with him until she got back on her feet, and she had been there for a couple of weeks. On a Dallas County Detective drove to 386 Moon Valley Road where he spoke with James Phelps concerning the missing person case of Cassidy Rainwater. Phelps advised Cassidy had made a statement about going to Colorado. Phelps advised he did but he had not spoken to her in about a month. Deputies asked Phelps if he knew Cassidy Rainwater. After arriving at 386 Moon Valley Road, Deputies met James Phelps. On the same day as, after taking the missing person report, Deputies drove to 386 Moon Valley Road to follow up on the missing person report. We later learned James Rainwater was in fact James Phelps, who lived at 386 Moon Valley Road, Lebanon, Mo. Terry advised the last person she believed to have seen Cassidy was James Rainwater. While talking with the reporting party, Cora Terry, it was revealed the last time Cassidy had been seen was approximately six weeks ago prior to the missing person’s report. On We received a missing person report on Cassidy Rainwater.
James phelps update#
Sheriff Scott Rice shared this update on Facebook: If there is anyone who believes they may have information concerning this case, they can call investigators at the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office at 41.Ī judge had scheduled a court appearance for Phelps on November 19. Sheriff Rice says this is an ongoing investigation. Sheriff Rice says investigators have not located any evidence leading them to believe there are any other victims associated with Phelps and Norton at this time. Detectives searched the area for several days. Investigators say Phelps claims she had left in the middle of the night at the end of July and he had not seen her since then. According to detectives, Rainwater had been staying with Phelps while she got on her feet. After searching Phelps’ phone, officials discovered seven photos of Rainwater. Investigators say a detective recognized Rainwater in a partially nude state. FBI investigators contacted detectives in Dallas County saying they received photos from an anonymous person showing Rainwater in a cage. KY3 News first broke the news of the kidnapping of Rainwater in mid-September.