On a Tuesday evening in May 2021, the life of 25-year-old Jonny Wayne Wren was tragically cut short. The young man, a resident of Anderson, Missouri, was found with a fatal gunshot wound in the driver's seat of his vehicle, which had come to a stop in a field off Highway 59, just south of Anderson. The discovery was made on May 25, 2021, setting in motion an investigation that would cross state lines.
Authorities from the McDonald County Sheriff's Office, with assistance from the
Missouri State Highway Patrol, quickly determined that Wren's death was a homicide. Their investigation led them to a person of interest, and within a day, a suspect was in custody. Levi H. Starrett, a 24-year-old from Miami, Oklahoma, was arrested in his hometown in connection with the shooting. The arrest was a collaborative effort between the McDonald County Sheriff's Office, the Miami Police Department, and the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office.
The narrative that emerged from the investigation painted a grim picture of the events leading to Jonny Wren's death. According to the probable cause statement, the incident began with a physical altercation between Wren and Starrett at a residence in McDonald County. Witnesses reported that following the fight, Wren left the location in his vehicle. It is alleged that Starrett, accompanied by another individual, pursued Wren. During the chase, Starrett reportedly fired multiple shots at Wren's vehicle, one of which struck and killed him.
Following his arrest, Levi Starrett was charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. He was extradited from Oklahoma to Missouri to face these charges and was held in the McDonald County Jail without bond. In October 2022, Levi Starrett pleaded guilty to the reduced charges of second-degree murder and armed criminal action. He was subsequently sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder charge and an additional 10 years for armed criminal action, with the sentences to be served concurrently.
