In the quiet town of East Prairie, Missouri, the life of 39-year-old Joshua Sisk was abruptly cut short on the evening of July 28, 2022. Sisk, a local taxidermist and owner of American Wildlife Taxidermy, was a known figure in his community. That evening, the sound of multiple gunshots shattered the peace on North Martin Avenue and East Main Street, prompting a call to the East Prairie Police Department.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found Sisk suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Emergency medical services airlifted him to Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau in a desperate attempt to save his life. Tragically, despite their efforts, Joshua Sisk was pronounced dead at the hospital. The investigation into his violent death was swift, and a suspect was quickly identified as 33-year-old DeParis Davion Townsend of Charleston, Missouri. Townsend had fled the scene in a vehicle, but his freedom was short-lived. He was apprehended a short time later by officers from the Charleston Department of Public Safety.
The subsequent investigation involved a coordinated effort between multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control, the East Prairie Police Department, the Charleston Police Department, and the Mississippi County Sheriff's Office. As a result of their work, DeParis Davion Townsend was charged with a string of serious felonies: first-degree murder, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, and resisting arrest.
On May 20, 2024, Townsend's trial commenced. The prosecution presented a compelling case that included eyewitness accounts and expert testimony on forensic pathology and gunshot residue. After two days of testimony and evidence, the jury returned a guilty verdict on May 22, 2024. For the murder of Joshua Sisk, DeParis Davion Townsend was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He also received consecutive sentences of 15 years for armed criminal action, 30 years for unlawful use of a weapon, and seven years for resisting arrest, ensuring he would spend the remainder of his life behind bars.
