Chicago man sentenced for 2018 Miller County killing
TUSCUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Chicago man pleaded guilty on Thursday to a charge of second-degree murder for the killing of a California man outside of Tuscumbia in 2018.
Joseph McKenna, 27, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the death of Tyler Worthington.
McKenna and Worthington worked together to sell marijuana and marijuana vaping products. Court documents say the pair visited Miller County to sell drugs in June of 2018.
Worthington's body was found in a rural area outside of Tuscumbia after the apparent drug deal. Investigators said he was killed by a single gunshot to the head.
Investigators searched Worthington's California home and discovered documents linking him to McKenna. McKenna's probable cause statement shows investigators interviewed his associates who confirmed the pair went to Missouri together to sell marijuana.
Court documents said McKenna's associates told investigators that he talked about killing Worthington over a prior debt.
McKenna and his girlfriend were arrested by Arkansas state police in August of 2018. Police said the pair had 65 pounds of marijuana and a small handgun. Investigators determined the gun seized from McKenna was the one used to kill Worthington.
The investigation revealed another man was with McKenna at the time of the suspected shooting. Investigators say Tyler Kroll was seen on toll booth camera footage with McKenna leaving and entering the Chicago area before and after the apparent killing.
Kroll faces a charge of first-degree murder in the case. Online court records show there are no court dates scheduled in his case.
