Probable cause cited for murder

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

— Danny Thomas was scheduled to appear in court in Neosho Tuesday afternoon for a probable cause hearing in the Tuesday, July 26, shooting death of Darrell Bone.

Thomas, 60, of Stella, Mo., is charged with first degree murder.

“In Missouri, all cases start in the associate level,” Jake Skouby, prosecuting attorney, said.

“We will put on two witnesses to establish probable cause.”

“If cause is found, he will be bound over to circuit court,”Skouby said Tuesday.

Skouby said he plans to call the coroner and David Bunch, the man to whom Thomas initially confessed.

Bone, 54, of Stella, Mo., and formerly of Pea Ridge, owned the farm on which Thomas was living. Bone had sold the farm and went to the residence to tell Thomas to vacate.

On Wednesday, July 27, Thomas told David Bunch of Neosho that he had shot Bone the night before and then driven around all night in Bone’s truck.

Newton County Sheriff Ken Copeland and Chief Deputy Chris Jennings went to the residence and found Bone’s body in the back yard.

News, Pages 1 on 09/07/2011