On October 26, 2025, authorities in Greene County, Missouri, launched a homicide investigation after the body of 50-year-old male David Costlow was discovered in a ditch near Brighton. The grim find prompted an immediate response from the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, with deputies and detectives descending on the scene to gather evidence. Initial assessments indicated that Costlow had sustained a possible gunshot wound, steering the inquiry toward a violent criminal act. As investigators worked to piece together the final moments of Costlow's life, the community waited for answers regarding the circumstances that led to his death in the rural roadside area.
In the weeks following the discovery, detectives made significant breakthroughs that resulted in multiple arrests. On November 5, 2025, authorities took 49-year-old Shannon Phillips into custody. Phillips was subsequently charged with the abandonment of a corpse and held on a $20,000 bond.
The investigation continued to unfold rapidly, implicating additional individuals in the crime. Sheriff Jim Arnott publicly commended the dedication of his detectives, noting their success in removing violent offenders from the streets as the case progressed against those believed to be responsible.
As the legal process moved forward, charges were intensified for another suspect, Paul Sartin. Initially facing lesser accusations, Sartin saw his charges amended to include second-degree murder, armed criminal action, unlawful possession of a firearm, and abandonment of a corpse. He was ordered to be held without bond given the severity of the allegations. By November 7, a third suspect had also been identified and charged in connection with the case, marking a widening of the prosecutorial effort to hold all involved parties accountable for David Costlow’s death.
