On a quiet Sunday evening in St. Joseph, Missouri, the life of 74-year-old Louis Paul Nold was tragically cut short. On October 30, 2016, Mr. Nold, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, was fatally shot in his home on Southeast McQueen Road. His passing sent ripples of shock and sorrow through the community that knew him as a dedicated family man and a respected ironworker.
The events of that night unfolded with a chilling suddenness.
Authorities received a call from the Nold residence and upon arrival, deputies discovered Mr. Nold unresponsive. He was transported to Mosaic Life Care where he was pronounced dead. The investigation quickly pointed to a violent intrusion. Evidence suggested that the perpetrator had forcibly entered the home by kicking in the back door.
Within a short period, law enforcement identified a suspect, 23-year-old Justin Paul Appleberry of St. Joseph. It was revealed that Appleberry had previously resided at the same address as the victim. A witness at the scene identified Appleberry, and he was taken into custody in DeKalb County through a coordinated effort between the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office, the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Following his arrest, Justin Paul Appleberry was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Louis Nold. During the investigation, it was reported that Appleberry made a statement to authorities and had also made references to killing other individuals, which raised concerns about the potential for further violence. A judge set his bail at $100,000.
