On New Year's Day, the body of 55-year-old Charles Younger, a male resident of Independence, Missouri, was discovered in his home in the 15000 block of East Truman Road, launching a homicide investigation. An autopsy later revealed that Younger had been both shot and stabbed to death. Investigators found three spent shell casings near his body inside the residence.
The investigation quickly focused on Darryl M.
Schaeffel, a 24-year-old homeless man who had been living with Younger for several days prior to the discovery of his body. Witnesses reported that the two men had been arguing because Younger suspected Schaeffel of stealing from him. It was later reported that Schaeffel and his girlfriend had allegedly planned to rob Younger's house.
Following the murder, Schaeffel and his girlfriend fled the area. His girlfriend later told authorities that Schaeffel woke her at approximately 4 a.m. on New Year's morning and insisted they leave immediately, though she claimed not to have learned of Younger's death until two days later. The couple traveled to New Hampton, where they hid out in an acquaintance's apartment for about three days. Their location was traced after they used an EBT card at a local Walmart.
After a multi-agency search involving local and federal law enforcement, Schaeffel was apprehended in Warsaw, Missouri. During an interview with Jackson County authorities, Schaeffel confessed to the murder of Charles Younger. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action, with prosecutors requesting a bond of $250,000. While executing a search warrant at the New Hampton apartment where Schaeffel had been staying, officers arrested two other individuals on drug possession charges.
