On the evening of May 29, 2021, thirty-eight-year-old female Krystle Layne Buhl finished her shift at the Famous Dave’s restaurant in Branson, Missouri. It was a Saturday night in the popular tourist town, and she walked out into the establishment's parking lot alongside her co-worker, thirty-nine-year-old Richard A. McMahan. The two employees had just completed their workday and were preparing to leave the premises located on West 76 Country Boulevard when they were approached by a
stranger.
The encounter quickly escalated into a violent confrontation. A man, later identified by authorities as Miguel Angel Melendez-Torres, reportedly intercepted the pair as they reached a vehicle. Investigators determined that the assailant demanded money from the two workers, leading to a brief argument between the parties. The situation turned fatal when the gunman discharged his weapon, shooting both Krystle and Richard in the head. Police officers arriving at the scene found the victims suffering from gunshot wounds; one of the victims was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other succumbed to their injuries after being transported to a nearby hospital.
Following the double homicide, the Branson Police Department launched an extensive and complex investigation that eventually spanned multiple states. Detectives collaborated with federal agencies, including the FBI and the Secret Service, to track the movements of the suspects involved. Authorities identified Melendez-Torres and a twenty-six-year-old female associate as the primary persons of interest. The investigation revealed that the pair had also been linked to an armed robbery in downtown Branson just days prior to the shooting.
A nationwide manhunt culminated months later with the apprehension of both suspects in different parts of the country. The female associate was located and arrested without incident in St. Augustine, Florida, on September 30, 2021. Less than a week later, on October 5, 2021, law enforcement officers captured Miguel Angel Melendez-Torres in the Boston, Massachusetts area. Both individuals were subsequently extradited back to Missouri to face legal proceedings related to the crimes.
Prosecutors charged Miguel Angel Melendez-Torres with two counts of second-degree murder, first-degree armed robbery, and armed criminal action for his role in the deaths of Krystle Buhl and Richard McMahan. The female associate faced charges including first-degree armed robbery. In June 2024, the mothers of both victims filed a civil lawsuit against Melendez-Torres and the company operating the restaurant, seeking damages for wrongful death and alleging a failure to provide adequate security measures on the property where the tragedy occurred.
