In the quiet neighborhood of Ruskin Heights in south Kansas City, 66-year-old Douglas Menser was known for his generosity and kindness. An Army veteran and retired mechanic, he had spent three decades in the community, becoming a friend to nearly everyone he met. He was a father of three and a beloved foster grandfather to dozens of children, affectionately known as 'Gramps.'
His passion for barbecue was legendary, not just for his skill in building custom smokers, but for the joy he took in cooking for others, even making annual trips to his native Wisconsin to smoke meats for high school reunions. His compassionate nature extended to offering a home to those in need, a decision that would tragically alter the course of his life.
On the morning of January 19, 2023, that compassion was met with violence inside his own home on East 108th Terrace. Despite being shot eight times, Douglas Menser found the strength to call 911. In his final moments, he told the dispatcher he was about to pass out but clearly identified the man who shot him: Donald E. Crowe. When police arrived, they found Menser on his front porch. He again named Crowe as his attacker before being rushed to Research Medical Center, where he died less than two hours later. He had told the dispatcher he didn't know why he had been shot.
The man Menser had identified was no stranger. Donald E. Crowe, 39, was a man whose family had been known to Menser for two decades. Menser had treated Crowe like one of his own children, taking him fishing and hunting over the years. Recently, upon learning Crowe was facing homelessness, Menser had opened his home to him, giving up his own bedroom so Crowe would have a comfortable place to sleep. On the morning of the shooting, it's believed Menser was preparing breakfast for Crowe when he was attacked.
Following the information provided by Menser, Kansas City police began a search of the neighborhood. Crowe was located and arrested that same day. During questioning, he acknowledged being at the house that morning but denied any knowledge of the shooting, claiming that Menser was fine when he left to walk to a convenience store. Despite his denial, Donald E. Crowe was charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action for the death of the man who had shown him nothing but kindness. He was held on a $250,000 bond. A judge later ordered a psychological evaluation for Crowe.
