Accused killer no longer facing murder charge

A man is no longer facing murder charges in Mid-Missouri because all of the witnesses are either deceased or not talking.

ABC 17 News confirmed that Randolph County prosecutors dropped the allegations against Reginald Griffin.

Griffin was convicted of killing another inmate in Moberly in July 1983. However, his conviction was overturned by the Missouri Supreme Court. Despite the reversal, Randolph County prosecutors proceeded with the original charge of murder.

In court documents obtained Friday, authorities say a key witness was killed by a hitman from Kansas City in 1987. That witness was shot to death execution-style.

The documents say the same hitman then tried to kill a second witness in 1988 in St. Louis and a third witness recanted his original testimony.

Randolph County Prosecutor Mike Fusselman confirmed Friday the case is considered closed and the murder charge against Griffin was dismissed.