On October 5, 2021, the life of 18-year-old White male Waylon Cole Williams came to a tragic end inside a residence on Huttig Avenue in Independence, Missouri. Police officers were initially dispatched to the home in the early morning hours following a distressing call reporting a suicide. Upon their arrival, they discovered Williams deceased from a gunshot wound.
A friend at the scene told the responding officers that the young man had taken his own life, setting the stage for what would initially appear to be a self-inflicted tragedy.
Detectives began to uncover evidence that contradicted the initial suicide narrative. As investigators canvassed the area, they searched the property and the surrounding neighborhood. A few blocks away from the residence, they located significant items hidden in the woods, including two firearms and the victim's cell phone. Forensic analysis later matched shell casings found inside the home to one of the guns recovered from the wooded area. Furthermore, a neighbor provided a crucial account to authorities, stating they had heard an argument stemming from the residence shortly before the sound of gunshots rang out.
The investigation shifted its focus to 36-year-old Myles Blesz, who was identified as a suspect in the case. Witness statements revealed that Blesz and Williams had been in a room together when a shot was fired. One witness admitted to helping Blesz dispose of the weapons in the woods following the incident. When questioned by detectives, Blesz admitted to shooting Williams but claimed the act was unintentional and that he did not mean to kill him.
Following the gathering of physical evidence and witness testimonies, the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office filed formal charges against Myles Blesz. He was charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action, as well as delivery of a controlled substance and unlawful use of a weapon. The charges reflected the authorities' conclusion that the shooting was a criminal act rather than the suicide originally reported to dispatchers.
