Between March 1st and May 6th of this year there have been at least twelve burglaries of businesses in the Northeast Industrial District of Kansas City, Missouri in which copper has been stolen, mainly from air conditioning units.  Besides the actual thefts, damage to property in the course of these crimes has cost thousands of dollars in repairs and replacement expenses.

A group of these businesses have partnered to raise the reward for information leading to any arrest in these crimes.  They have added $1,250 to the reward making a total possible reward of $2,250.  Mr. Joe Lamothe of Midwest Terminal Warehouse Company is acting as spokesperson for the group and can be reached at 816-231-0020.

Anyone with information on these crimes is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 816-474-TIPS.

On March 5^th, 2008 at approximately 10:30 a.m., the body of Tammy K. Cochran (Hopper), WF, was discovered near the Cedar Creek boat ramp located at 8255 S. Gardner Road.  The victim’s body had been burned.  The victim has been reported to be in multiple cities throughout the Kansas City Metropolitan area.  The victim was last seen wearing a light green shirt, black shoes, blue jeans with some type of design on the back pockets and a dark blue or black jacket with a fuzzy collar.  Anyone with information is encouraged to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).  A reward of up to $18,000 is available for information leading to an arrest.

On August 12th, 2007, just before 3:00 in the morning, Kansas City police were called to 18th and Baltimore on a report of a shooting.  When they arrived they found 19 year-old Marco M. Lugo in the back seat of a white GMC Yukon suffering from a gunshot wound.  He was transported to a hospital where he died shortly after arriving.  Other occupants of the car in which the victim had been riding told police that as they were driving away from a nightclub suspects in a blue Ford Taurus began shooting into the Yukon for no apparent reason.  The suspect vehicle was said to have a gray roof where the paint had peeled off.

On May 14, 2008 the victim`s family added $7,500 to the reward for information leading to an arrest in the case, making a total possible reward of  $8,500.  The victim`s parents will speak to media.  The father, Martin Lugo, can be reached at 913-575-7860 and his mother, Virginia Lugo can be reached at 913-579-2814.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 816-474-TIPS.

On July 3^rd, 2007, just after midnight, 37 year-old Donald Bell was struck and killed by a car while he was walking along Interstate 435 near Truman Road in Kansas City.  The car that struck him, described as an unknown type gray four door, fled the scene.  It should have heavy damage around the front of the vehicle.  A reward of up to $1,000 is available for information leading to an arrest.

Just before 5:30 p.m. on May 29^th, 2007, Kansas City Police were called to the 2500 block of Kensington on a shooting.  When they arrived they found 17 year-old Vonzall Temple slumped over in the seat of his car that had come to rest against a pole.  Witnesses said the victim was shot by unknown black males who walked up as he sat in his car in a driveway in the 2400 block of Kensington.  After being shot he tried to drive away but only made it one block.  He died a short time later of his wounds.  A total reward of up to $8,000 is available for information leading to an arrest in this case.

In the early morning hours of May 20^th, 2007, 21 year-old Christopher Bartholomew, was with friends at 39^th and Broadway in Kansas City.  Chris was going to give friends a ride home.  At that same time an argument erupted nearby between two groups of men and shots were fired.  Christopher and his friends were not involved.  The victim grabbed one of the people near him in an attempt to pull them to safety and was struck by a stray bullet.  He died from his injuries the next day.  Three other people received non life-threatening wounds.  A reward fund established by Chris’s family and friends has boosted to total possible for information leading to an arrest up to $30,000.

Sometime during the night of February 11^th, 2007, 20 year-old Richard Montes, was shot to death in his family’s tire business in the 9400 block of East Truman Road in Independence.  The victim often spent the night in the shop to watch over the premises and be able to open for business early.  Robbery was not an apparent motive.  His family has offered additional reward money making the total possible reward up to $4,700. 

On Christmas Eve, 2006, at least two men broke into the Missouri Poster and Banner Company at 1331 Erie in North Kansas City. The suspects were apparently surprised to find the business owner, Mr. Jerry Barham, inside with a female friend. Over the course of the next hour and a half the suspects brutally beat Mr. Barham and held down the woman while they ransacked the business. They took a safe with several thousand dollars worth of property in it.

Mr. Barham was taken to a hospital in serious condition wher he spent almost three weeks being treated. After his release he had to undergo extensive rehabilitation therapy. The female friend was not seriously physically injured. The suspects remain at large.

Mr. Barham and numerous friends and other businesses have put together a reward totaling $50,000 for information leading to an arrest. Call Crime Stoppers at 816-474-TIPS or email us from our website at KCcrimestoppers.com. if you know anything about who was responsible for this beating and robbery.

On July 23^rd, 2006, just after 1:00 in the morning, Kansas City, Missouri police officers were investigating a traffic accident at 82^nd Terrace and Wornall as a party was breaking up at a nearby fraternal lodge meeting hall.  As the crowd came out to the parking lot a fight erupted between two groups affiliated with Ruskin and Hickman Mills High Schools.  It apparently involved an ongoing dispute.

Suddenly several shots were fired from within the crowd.  As police rushed toward the scene, the crowd scattered, running for safety.  Police found Nathan Buie and DeMarco Harvey, both 20 years old, on the ground, suffering from mortal gunshot wounds.  From all accounts neither man was involved in the fight and were college students and innocent victims.  Several other people received non-life threatening wounds.

Police found several empty shell casings of various calibers and two guns at the scene.  It was obvious that several people in the crowd had fired guns.  As is often the case in these situations, however, police found it difficult to get witnesses to cooperate and the case remains unsolved. 

A cash reward is awaiting the caller whose information leads to an arrest in this double murder case.

56 year-old Darmon Parker was apparently preparing to enter the rear of his house in the 400 block of East Gregory in Kansas City around 11:00 on the night of February 12^th, 2006 when someone approached him with robbery in mind.  Witnesses reported hearing shots in the area at that time.  The next morning at about 5:00 his body was found near his car.  He had died of gunshots wounds.  His pockets were turned out and it appeared his house key might have been used to gain access to the home.  A reward of $25,000 is available for information leading to an arrest in this case.

On November 23, 2005, Kansas City police discovered the body of 37 year-old David Tuggle on the floor of his house at 6615 Agnes.  He had been shot to death.  Relatives had not heard from him in several days and went to his house to investigate.  They could see his body through a window and called police.

Police have developed some possible motives and leads in the case, but need more information to close this case.  If you have information about the murder of David Tuggle, call Crime Stoppers at 816-474-TIPS or email your tip anonymously from this website by clicking on "Give A Tip".

On November 5^th, 2005, Paramjit Singh was working at his job in a convenience store in the 1300 block of East Bannister Road in Kansas City.  Apparently a robber entered the store and demanded money.  At some point the unknown robber shot and killed Mr. Singh.  An undisclosed amount of cash was taken.  A reward of up to $5,000 is available for information leading to an arrest in this case.

On October 16^th, 2005, a pedestrian walking in the area of 92^nd and Pitcher Road in Independence, saw what they thought was a pile of trash in a vacant lot there.  When they looked closer it turned out to be carpet padding and a blanket rolled up around the body of 22 year-old Lakota R. Linville.  Only her head was exposed.

Independence police responded and immediately started an investigation that revealed the victim had been beaten and stabbed to death.  Neighbors told police that as of 7:00 that morning the “pile of trash” had been there but no one looked more closely at that time, as illegal dumping was common in the area.  Other neighbors said they did not see it.

Police learned the victim worked as a prostitute along Independence Avenue in Kansas City and had been with a customer as late as 3:30 that morning.  DNA testing cleared that customer of suspicion.  About an hour before the body was found an Independence police officer on patrol in the area had seen a brown, nineties model Ford Explorer park in the lot where the body was found.  There didn’t seem to be anyone around and the truck blocked the view of the spot where Lakota’s body was.  It is unknown if this vehicle had anything to do with her death.

Police said it appeared she was killed elsewhere and her body dumped in the lot.  The blanket in which she was found was distinctive and they hope it may trigger someone’s memory.  It was a southwestern themed blanket with a desert scene with a skeleton head of a steer with horns.  The spring following her murder, Lakota’s tribe held a blessing ceremony at the spot where she was found to help bring peace to her spirit.

Police hope some has information that will bring justice as well.