In the small town of Bland, Missouri, a domestic dispute escalated into a fatal encounter for 53-year-old Jesse James Robbins on November 25, 2018. The events leading to his death began the day before, following a physical altercation with his wife, Vickie Robbins. After being denied entry back into his home in the early morning hours, a confrontation ensued at a nearby mobile home park.
The conflict involved Robbins, his step-daughter Brooke Allison Buddemeyer, and a man identified as
Aaron 'Foozball' Lewis. During the physical struggle between Robbins and Lewis, it is alleged that Buddemeyer shot her step-father. After being shot, Robbins managed to make his way to a friend's porch across the street, where he collapsed and died from a gunshot wound to the torso. Before succumbing to his injury, Robbins reportedly identified Buddemeyer as the person who had shot him.
Following the shooting, Buddemeyer and Lewis fled the state, sparking a manhunt that concluded a week later in north-central Florida. Their capture came after a high-speed chase with law enforcement, which ended when police used spike strips to disable the vehicle Lewis was driving. The car they were in had stolen South Carolina license plates. Both suspects waived extradition and were returned to Missouri to face charges.
Initially, Buddemeyer and Lewis were charged with second-degree murder. Buddemeyer also faced a charge of armed criminal action. However, these charges were later upgraded to first-degree murder. Brooke Buddemeyer pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. While in custody for the murder of her step-father, her probation for a prior drug-related conviction was revoked.
