In the summer of 2020, Kameron Stilwell, a 26-year-old man from Thornfield, Missouri, was fatally shot on July 15th. The incident occurred at the Thornfield home of his ex-girlfriend, Kimberly Morris. At the time of his death, a medical examiner's report indicated the presence of methamphetamine, amphetamine, and THC in his system.
The investigation into Stilwell's death quickly focused on Timothy Kyle Sprague, who was dating Morris at the time. Following the shooting, Sprague fled the scene with Morris and another woman, Kaylee Isaac, who was also present during the incident. The trio traveled to Oklahoma, where they were located and arrested the following day in West Siloam Springs.
Sprague was initially charged with a string of felonies, including second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, two counts of kidnapping, three counts of armed criminal action, unlawful possession of a firearm, and abandonment of a corpse.
During a preliminary hearing in April 2021, testimony revealed that Stilwell had been in a nine-year relationship with Morris that had ended about a month before the shooting. On the day of the incident, Stilwell reportedly arrived at Morris's home, and a confrontation ensued. Witnesses testified to hearing a single gunshot followed by several more in rapid succession. They found Stilwell on the floor with blood on his back, still moving and appearing to struggle to breathe. An autopsy later confirmed that Kameron Stilwell died from four gunshot wounds.
The legal proceedings against Timothy Kyle Sprague culminated in a plea agreement. In December 2022, Sprague pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. Court documents indicated that the charge was reduced because the state found that Sprague 'did lawfully engage in the defense of another.' The documents noted that Stilwell was unlawfully at the residence and was believed to be breaking in while making threats against a woman in the house. It was also noted that if Sprague had not been a convicted felon, the case might have been considered a lawful use of force.
In February 2024, while on probation for the voluntary manslaughter conviction, Sprague admitted to violating his probation after being arrested on new domestic assault charges. He was subsequently ordered to complete a 120-day institutional drug treatment program. His probation violation carries a potential 15-year backup prison sentence.
