In the autumn of 2020, the life of 39-year-old Stanley Simon, a male resident of Springfield, Missouri, was brought to a tragic and violent end. On October 20th, deputies from the Greene County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to his home to conduct a wellness check. Upon their arrival, they made a grim discovery; Simon was deceased inside his residence. It was immediately apparent that his death was not from natural causes, and the scene showed signs of a disturbance.
The subsequent autopsy would confirm that Simon had been shot in the upper chest and neck, ruling his death a homicide.
Investigators at the scene quickly determined that Simon's home had been ransacked and several of his belongings were missing. Among the stolen items were his 2004 Chevrolet 3500 dually truck, multiple firearms, a dirt bike, and two chainsaws. The search for his stolen truck provided an early break in the case. Four days later, on October 24th, Springfield Police spotted the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. The driver, however, fled, leading police on a chase before abandoning the truck. This abandoned vehicle would prove to be a crucial piece of evidence in unraveling the events that led to Simon's murder.
The investigation swiftly led to three suspects: 25-year-old Riley Collier, 18-year-old Patricia Davis, and 40-year-old Michael Stauffer. Authorities determined that the trio had gone to Simon's home with the intention of burglarizing it. During the commission of this crime, Collier, armed with a. 223 caliber rifle, fatally shot Stanley Simon. Following the murder, the three suspects proceeded to steal Simon's truck and other valuables. In the days that followed, Collier reportedly bragged about the killing.
The wheels of justice began to turn with the arrests of the three individuals. Riley Collier, identified as the shooter, faced the most severe charge of first-degree murder, in addition to armed criminal action, burglary, and other charges. Patricia Davis and Michael Stauffer were both charged with second-degree murder and burglary. As the case proceeded through the legal system, plea agreements were reached. Patricia Davis pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Michael Stauffer also pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary and received a 15-year prison sentence. Riley Collier ultimately pleaded guilty to second-degree murder as part of a plea agreement and was sentenced to a total of 74 years in prison for his role in the robbery and murder of Stanley Simon.
