On a cold December day in 2021, the life of David Wesley Stotts, a 45-year-old Caucasian male, was cut short in Seneca, Missouri. He was found deceased from apparent gunshot wounds on December 23rd at a property located at 3966 Kentucky Road in Newton County. The circumstances of his death would lead to a complex legal case involving a claim of self-defense.
The investigation into the shooting quickly focused on 62-year-old Susette Anderson.
According to reports, the incident stemmed from a dispute over a trailer. Anderson claimed she had purchased a trailer from Stotts but believed he was attempting to steal it back. A witness reported hearing loud noises coming from Anderson's home on the morning of the incident, followed by the sound of several gunshots. Anderson alleged that Stotts had attacked her in a field next to a trailer and a Winnebago, prompting her to shoot him. The witness also stated that a second shot was fired while Stotts was on the ground.
Following the investigation by the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, Susette Anderson was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. She was held without bond awaiting trial. The case proceeded through the legal system, and in July 2023, jury selection began in McDonald County after a change of venue was granted.
However, in a significant development, the Newton County prosecuting attorney filed a motion to dismiss the charges against Anderson. The prosecutor stated that they believed it was a case of justifiable self-defense. Consequently, the murder charges against Susette Anderson were dropped, bringing an end to the criminal proceedings in the death of David Wesley Stotts.
