Local News – Monday, December 11th, 2023
A fatality accident occurred in Dent County Thursday evening around 5:15 on Highway 32 about three miles east of Salem. According to the highway patrol report, 83-year-old David E. Davis of Salem, was crossing the roadway when he was struck by an unknown vehicle. The unknown vehicle left the scene. Davis was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:15 by Dent County Coroner Ben Pursiful. The body was transported by the coroner to the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. The highway patrol was assisted by the Dent County Sheriff’s Department and the Major Crash Team #5.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control announces additional criminal charges have been filed in the investigation of 42-year old Justin B. Durham of Rolla. On September 14, 2023, Durham was formally indicted by a Phelps County Grand Jury with first degree rape, first degree sodomy, possession of child pornography and sexual trafficking of a child, following an investigation by the Troop F/I Criminal Investigative Unit of the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control, the Phelps County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On December 6th, the Phelps County Prosecuting Attorney formally charged Durham with first-degree rape and first-degree sodomy, due to additional information discovered in the ongoing investigation. On August 7th, the Phelps County Sheriff’s Office requested the assistance of the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control with an investigation into allegations against Durham. Durham was alleged to be in possession of child pornography, based on information provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigations. During the joint investigation, a victim was identified who reported she was sexually assaulted by Durham. The investigation led to Durham being arrested and indicted on September 14th by a Phelps County Grand Jury, with first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, possession of child pornography, and sexual trafficking of a child. After these charges were filed, another victim contacted law enforcement to report she had been sexually assaulted by Durham. This new information led to the Phelps County Prosecuting Attorney formally charging Durham on December 6th with first-degree rape and first-degree sodomy. In addition to state charges, a federal grand jury indicted Durham in October of 2023, with one count of producing child pornography, two counts of possession of child pornography, and two counts of altering or destroying records. The investigation is being conducted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the ongoing assistance of the Phelps County Sheriff’s Office. Durham is currently being held in the Crawford County Jail on state and federal charges, stemming from the joint investigation. The Missouri State Highway Patrol encourages anyone with information related to Durham to call Missouri State Highway Patrol Corporal Jonathon Fariole at (573) 368-2345, ext 3950, or the FBI, using tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-225-5324. The charges are only accusations and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of these charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty it will be to determine guilt or innocence.