On a Saturday afternoon in Stockton, Missouri, the life of 39-year-old Joseph Roberts was cut short by a single gunshot. It was March 10, 2018, when deputies from the Cedar County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a residence at 108 West Craig Street following a 911 call about a possible shooting victim. Upon their arrival, they discovered Roberts outside the home, suffering from a gunshot wound.
Emergency medical personnel pronounced him deceased at the scene shortly thereafter.
The investigation into the shooting quickly led to a suspect, Ramie A. Halbrook, who was 71 years old at the time. Halbrook was Roberts' landlord. A witness at the scene, who was helping Roberts move, told investigators that Roberts had noticed Halbrook on the property and had approached him to ask why he was in his shed. According to the witness, Halbrook did not respond verbally but instead fired a handgun at Roberts. The witness then fled and called for help. Halbrook was arrested later that same afternoon and transported to the Cedar County jail.
Initially, Ramie A. Halbrook was charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with Roberts' death. He was held in the Cedar County jail without bond. The case proceeded to a bench trial in October 2021. After four days of testimony, the court found Halbrook guilty of the lesser offense of voluntary manslaughter and armed criminal action. The judge sentenced him to a total of 11 years in prison, with the sentences for each count to run consecutively.
