In the small town of Reeds Spring, Missouri, a chilling event unfolded on the night of October 16, 1980, forever marking the community. George August Moulat, a 33-year-old patrolman with the Reeds Spring Police Department, was tragically killed in what was described as an ambush. Moulat, a U.S. Army veteran of the 82nd Airborne and a father of five, had only been with the department for a year.
The tragic chain of events began earlier that evening when Officer Moulat conducted a traffic
stop. The driver of the vehicle became combative and was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence and carrying a concealed weapon. While in custody, the individual made threats on Patrolman Moulat's life, vowing retaliation upon his release.
Later that night, the threats tragically materialized. A city worker discovered Officer Moulat's body in the early morning hours. He was found in his patrol car, parked in a lot across from city hall, having been shot through the driver's side window with a 20-gauge shotgun. The single gunshot wound to his head was fatal.
The investigation that followed led to the arrest of two suspects who were ultimately convicted of his murder. One of the convicted individuals was James Stephens. According to court testimony from a witness, Stephens, after a night of drinking, expressed his intent to shoot the officer upon seeing the parked patrol car. The witness testified that Stephens then directed him to pull their vehicle alongside the police car, from where Stephens fired the fatal shot. The murder weapon was later recovered after being dismantled and hidden in a rural area.
