MOBERLY, MISSOURI — A 37-year-old woman is facing multiple felony charges after an 11-year-old girl died in what authorities describe as an accidental shooting inside a home investigators say was filled with trash, unsecured weapons, and unsanitary living conditions.
Jo Marie Timmons has been charged with five counts of endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree, according to the Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. One of the counts is tied directly to the death of the child, significantly increasing potential prison time if convicted.
What Authorities Confirmed
The incident occurred in January at a residence in Moberly, located approximately 40 miles north of Columbia. Deputies with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call involving an 11-year-old suffering from a gunshot wound.
According to a probable cause statement obtained by local affiliates KMIZ and KOMU, a 12-year-old at the scene helped deputies locate a Bersa .380 handgun inside a dresser. Authorities say Timmons admitted she had left multiple children alone while she went to pick up her paycheck.
Investigators said she later received a phone call reporting that an unknown vehicle had pulled into the driveway. Minutes afterward, another call allegedly came from a girl stating she had shot someone.
Law enforcement has not publicly released the identity of the victim, but local reporting indicates the child was a fifth-grade student in the Moberly School District.
What Happened at the Scene
Statements from the children indicated they became frightened after the vehicle arrived and hid in a bedroom. According to the charging document, one child grabbed the handgun and a shot was fired.
Authorities say one child told investigators the firearm’s safety was on, but they were unaware a round had already been loaded into the chamber.
The number of children present has not been fully clarified due to redactions in court documents. However, officials stated that at least five children between the ages of 7 and 12 were left alone inside the residence that day.
Some of the children were later placed in another home following the incident.
Conditions Inside the Home
In addition to the shooting investigation, deputies described deeply unsanitary and hazardous living conditions throughout the residence.
According to the probable cause statement, the home smelled strongly of feces and urine. Trash, dirty dishes, and food remnants covered countertops, the sink, and the table. Investigators also documented loose pills and used condoms among the scattered debris.
In Timmons’ bedroom, deputies reportedly discovered a shotgun mounted to the wall that was crawling with cockroaches. Witnesses told investigators the firearm was not always kept secured.
Randolph County Prosecutor Stephanie Luntsford told KMIZ that while standards of cleanliness vary, conditions that rise to a level of danger or pose health risks to children can warrant criminal charges.
Potential Penalties
Timmons was arrested Thursday and remains detained in the Randolph County Jail on bond.
Because one of the endangerment counts relates to the death of a child, she faces a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison if convicted. The remaining counts carry maximum penalties of seven years each.
Prosecutors have declined to comment further on whether all children involved were related to Timmons, stating only that several children were residing in the home at the time.
The case remains under investigation as court proceedings move forward.
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