Moberly man charged with killing his wife

Vernon Head, 81, of Moberly, has been charged with first degree murder and armed criminal action after his wife was found dead in their home Saturday morning.

Sheriff Mark Nichols said Head went into a Huntsville bank and told an employee his wife had been shot around 10:20 Saturday morning.

The clerk told investigators Mr. Head seemed “disoriented,” according to Sheriff Nichols.

Randolph County Sheriff deputies later found Vickye Head, 77, deceased in her rural Moberly residence on County Road 2230. Sheriff Nichols said preliminary investigation reveals she died from at least one gunshot wound.

He added there was no sign of a struggle inside the home.

Mr. Head was later taken into custody and questioned by authorities.

Court documents said authorities found Vickye with multiple gunshot wounds, and noticed a blood stain on Vernon’s shirt. They also found a gun in his car with blood on it.

He is being held in the Randolph County Jail with a $100,000 cash only bond.

One neighbor told ABC 17 News that she knew the Head family very well. She said, “It’s a very sad situation.”

Other neighbors said they often saw the couple riding their horses along the road.

Another neighbor said she and Mrs. Head bonded over their love of horses. She said the situation is “heart breaking.”

Some neighbors believed Mr. Head may have been suffering from a mental illness like Alzheimer’s disease, and Randolph County prosecutor Mike Fusselman said Monday the issue has been raised.

“As the case is progressing on, a person might deteriorate to a point where they cannot participate in their case any further, and if its organic, they may not have the ability to recover and assist in their defense,” said Fusselman.

The State Highway Patrol is assisting with the investigation. Authorities were investigating the scene until about 6:00 p.m. Saturday.