On the early morning of April 16, 2023, deputies in Cass County were dispatched to a rural residence in the 23700 block of South State Route C near Peculiar, Missouri, following a distress call regarding a gunshot victim. Upon arrival at the home around 1:10 a.m., law enforcement discovered the lifeless body of Alyssa Jordan, a 50-year-old White female, lying on the kitchen floor. She had sustained a fatal gunshot wound to her left cheek.
The atmosphere in the home was chaotic, with blood evident on the suspect’s hands and socks, as well as on the stove and walls of the kitchen, and bloody footprints leading toward the basement.
The 911 call had been placed by Christopher M. Marshall, Jordan's 49-year-old live-in boyfriend, who initially claimed that she had committed suicide. Marshall concocted a confusing narrative for the dispatchers and responding officers, alleging that Jordan had shot herself in the face and then proceeded to throw the firearm into a nearby pond before succumbing to her injuries. His account of the events shifted repeatedly; at one point he claimed he was asleep when the shooting occurred, while later asserting he had been outside tending to dogs and discovered her body upon returning indoors. Officers noted that Marshall appeared heavily intoxicated, exhibiting slurred speech, stumbling movements, and the distinct odor of alcohol.
Investigators quickly dismantled Marshall's version of events as they processed the scene. Contrary to his claim that the weapon was at the bottom of a pond, a search of the residence revealed three pistols concealed between a mattress and box spring in the bedroom, with a fourth firearm located in a closet. A shell casing was also found near the dining room table, contradicting the suicide theory. Further scrutiny of Marshall's background revealed he was a convicted felon which prohibited him from possessing firearms. Witnesses who had been staying at the home reported waking up to the sound of a single gunshot following an argument, further implicating Marshall in the violence.
The legal process culminated in a jury trial that took place in April 2024. Prosecutors presented evidence of the inconsistent alibis, the hidden weapons, and the forensic details of the crime scene. The jury deliberated for less than four hours before returning a guilty verdict. Christopher Marshall was convicted of second-degree murder, armed criminal action, three counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, and one count of stealing a firearm. In June 2024, Judge Stacey Lett sentenced Marshall to life in prison for the murder charge, with an additional consecutive term of 50 years for the associated crimes, ensuring he would spend the remainder of his days incarcerated for the killing of Alyssa Jordan.
