On the evening of January 4, 2023, authorities in Franklin County, Missouri, were called to a violent scene in the 2400 block of Spring Valley Drive near Pacific. Around 7:30 p.m., deputies responded to reports of gunfire and discovered a chaotic situation involving a vehicle that had crashed into a residence. Inside the vehicle were two victims who had sustained gunshot wounds. Ronald G. Cline Jr., a 39-year-old White male, was found deceased at the scene.
Beside him was his girlfriend, 34-year-old Leslie N. Barstow, who was critically injured and transported to a local hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries.
Investigators determined that the shooting occurred while the victims and a third individual were inside Cline’s truck. It was reported that Cline was driving when the passenger in the back seat opened fire, shooting both him and Barstow. The attack caused the vehicle to veer off the road and collide with a house, which belonged to Cline's father. Witnesses in the area reported hearing the gunshots and observing a vehicle fleeing the scene shortly after the incident. Detectives identified the motive as robbery, believing the assailant intended to steal from the couple before fleeing.
The investigation quickly zeroed in on 37-year-old Timothy J. Kalter of St. Louis as the primary suspect. Law enforcement officials issued a no-bond warrant for his arrest, charging him with two counts of first-degree murder, first-degree robbery, and two counts of armed criminal action. A manhunt ensued, spanning several days as authorities tracked Kalter’s movements.
On January 15, 2023, nearly two weeks after the double homicide, police located Kalter, leading to a high-speed pursuit. The chase came to an end on Interstate 55 near Bates Avenue in St. Louis City when Kalter crashed his vehicle. He was subsequently taken into custody without further incident. Following his arrest, he was held to face the charges related to the deaths of Cline and Barstow, bringing a measure of resolution to the grieving community and the families of the victims.
