Suspect allegedly shot victim in the chest in a vehicle

By Kyle Troutman ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com

A Shell Knob man is facing four felony charges relating to the alleged murder of a victim in Stone County.

Heath Sanborn, 42, of Shell Knob, is charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon.

According to a probable cause statement filed by Det. Brian Landreth, with the Stone County Sheriff’s Office, authorities were dispatched to an area near a residence within Stone County in reference to a deceased person lying next to a truck in the roadway.

Landreth said upon arrival, he observed a Nissan Pathfinder wrecked in the ditch about 650 feet from the crime scene, and the deceased, whose name and gender are redacted in the statement, on the ground near the vehicle.

The vehicle appeared to be damaged from a gunshot, Landreth said, with the rear driver window broken and the rear window shattered. The victim appeared to have a gunshot wound to the chest.

Due to the number of small holes damaging the vehicle, Landreth said it appeared a shotgun was used. The victim, he said, had a large entry wound to the chest indicating he was shot at close range. He said the shot that hit the truck was from further away.

During the investigation, it was determined Sanborn owned the vehicle. He had been staying at a residence in the same area, but when deputies attempted to make contact, they found the home’s surveillance cameras had been disconnected and Sanborn had fled the area with an unnamed individual.

Both Sanborn and the other individual were located several hours after the incident in the woods in a subdivision, the exact location of which is redacted. Online court records show Sanborn’s address is in Turkey Mountain Estates No. 2 subdivision. 

Landreth said when Sanborn was arrested, he allegedly made a spontaneous statement that it was an accident, then said it was self-defense.

In an interview at the Stone County Jail, Landreth said Sanborn stated he was at a vacant house across the street from the victim when the victim drove out to the roadway and confronted him. 

“Heath stated [the victim] just started shooting at him, and he sped away, wrecking his vehicle on the way out, so he walked home,” Landreth said. “When I asked Heath how [the victim] was shot, he stated it must have been a ricochet. I asked Heath if he could explain how [the victim’s] vehicle was shot and [the victim] was shot in the chest, and he became upset, stated I wasn’t going to pin this on him, and requested an attorney.”

Sanborn is being held in the Stone County jail on no bond. He has been arraigned, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 17 at 1:30 p.m. in the court of Judge Eric Chavez.