On September 16, 2019, a tragic discovery shook the rural community near Bland, Missouri, when the body of a four-year-old male, Bentlee J. Turner, was found alongside an adult male. Law enforcement officers were called to the scene in Gasconade County, where they located the two deceased individuals. The initial investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol was launched immediately to determine the circumstances surrounding the sudden loss of the young boy, who was just beginning his
second year of preschool, and the man found with him.
As investigators processed the scene and notified the next of kin, they identified the adult male as 37-year-old Monty Jason Barton of Belle, Missouri. The relationship between the two was investigated as part of the inquiry, though early reports focused heavily on the forensic evidence to understand the sequence of events. The bodies were transported to the Boone County Medical Examiner’s Office in Columbia, Missouri, where autopsies were scheduled to determine the precise cause and manner of death for both individuals.
The medical examiner’s findings later revealed that Bentlee had suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Similarly, Monty Jason Barton died from a single gunshot wound to the head. Based on the autopsy results and the evidence gathered at the scene, authorities concluded that the incident was a murder-suicide. The investigation determined that Barton had taken the child’s life before turning the weapon on himself. Because the suspect was deceased at the scene, no arrests were made, and the case was effectively closed following the ruling of homicide and suicide.
Bentlee was remembered by his community and family as a happy child who loved the outdoors. Born in St. Louis, he spent his time in Belle playing with his siblings and watching tractors go by his home, often pausing his play to watch them pass. He had a particular fondness for the television show *Paw Patrol* and riding bikes. His life was cut short just months before his fifth birthday, leaving his parents and eleven siblings to mourn the sudden violence that claimed him.
