In the cold, early hours of a January morning in 1991, St. Louis County Police Officer Joann Virginia Liscombe, a 38-year-old female, was nearing the end of her shift. A sixteen-year veteran of the department, she was known for her dedication, having received several commendations. Shortly after 1:13 a.m. on January 11th, she radioed in a 'pedestrian check' near the intersection of Patricia Ridge Drive and Old Halls Ferry Road. This would be her final transmission.
When she failed to respond to further radio calls, a backup officer was dispatched to her location and made a grim discovery: Officer Liscombe was found lying face down in the snow, having been shot multiple times. She was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to her injuries three days later, on January 14, 1991.
The investigation into Officer Liscombe's murder quickly led to a suspect, Dennis Blackman. It was discovered that Officer Liscombe was scheduled to testify against Blackman in an upcoming rape and kidnapping trial. Investigators learned that on the night of the shooting, Officer Liscombe had stopped at a 7-Eleven where a customer reported a man acting strangely in the area. It is believed this was the man she stopped to investigate. Evidence suggested a struggle had occurred, during which Officer Liscombe was shot with her own service revolver. Her patrol car was found abandoned less than a mile from the scene.
Dennis Blackman was arrested and charged with the murder of Officer Liscombe. During questioning, he admitted to the killing. Following a trial, a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder and armed criminal action. He was subsequently sentenced to two consecutive life sentences. Blackman has since been denied parole, with his next hearing scheduled for 2026.
