St. James man now charged with murder in fence post attack

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A St. James man has now been charged with murder in an Oct. 4 attack in Phelps County.

Stacey Cameron Johnson, 37, is now charged in Phelps County with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and drug possession. Amended charges were filed on Tuesday. He was previously charged with first-degree assault, armed criminal and drug possession.

He is accused of attacking Steffen Harris on Oct. 4 with a fence post. Harris’ obituary says he died on Saturday, Oct. 10.

Johnson is being held at the Phelps County Jail without bond. A motion hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20. A bond review hearing is set for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27.

Court documents in previous reporting say law enforcement was called to Dicky Bub Farm and Home in Rolla at 8:40 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4.

The victim had a severe head injury and police noted seeing “suspected brain matter and skull fragments” in the roadway, the statement says. The victim was flown to University Hospital, according to the report.

Multiple witnesses told police they saw Johnson use a metal fence post to attack the victim and video footage allegedly backed up the statements, court documents say. Johnson allegedly sent an apology to the victim’s girlfriend after the attack, court documents say.