On a Friday afternoon in the small town of Freeman, Missouri, a violent encounter left two men dead and a woman behind bars. Michael David Spear, a 47-year-old man, was fatally shot on August 16, 2024. The incident, which also claimed the life of his 27-year-old son, Brian Spear, unfolded near Main and Washington streets, not far from the city's community hub.
Deputies from the Cass County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the scene around 1 p.m. following reports of a shooting. They discovered both Michael and Brian Spear suffering from gunshot wounds. One of the men was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, while the other was rushed to a nearby hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly led to the arrest of Michael Spear's longtime girlfriend, 43-year-old Misty Stufflebean of Harrisonville. While another man was initially questioned by authorities, he was subsequently released. Stufflebean, however, was taken into custody and has since been charged with first-degree burglary and fourth-degree assault in connection with the deaths.
Conflicting narratives of the events leading up to the shooting have emerged. According to court documents, Stufflebean, accompanied by Michael and Brian Spear, went to an apartment in Freeman to find a woman. Stufflebean alleged that after they were told to leave and as they were returning to their vehicle, someone from the residence opened fire on them. However, the man who lived in the apartment told investigators a different story. He claimed that the trio refused to leave and that one of the Spear men held the door to prevent him from closing it. Fearing for his own safety, as well as for a woman and an autistic juvenile who were also inside, he said he retrieved a firearm and shot both Michael and Brian Spear. He told authorities he knew one of the men was known to carry a gun and that he was 'terrified.' Stufflebean is being held without bond at the Cass County Jail as the investigation continues.
