Bank robbery suspect found dead in Montgomery City

UPDATE 11/3: Callaway County officials have released more details to clarify the robbery and vehicle pursuit.

According to the official release, authorities were notified that the three suspects of the Missouri Department of Corrections-Community Supervision Center left without authorization. Two of the suspects are on parole for robbery, and one is on parole for stealing.

The vehicle that was stolen by the three suspects was on private residence property, specifically on the 6000 block of State Road UU. It was reported as stolen on Nov. 2 at 5:58 a.m. The vehicle is not owned by the Missouri Department of Transportation.

ORIGINAL STORY: The third suspect in an Audrain County bank robbery was found dead in a Montgomery City home Wednesday night.

Officials told ABC 17 News law enforcement was not involved in the death. The cause is still being investigated.

None of the suspects names will be released until officials notify the family of the deceased victim, according to Matt Oller with the Audrain County Sheriff’s Office.

“Now that we’ve accounted for all three and we’re sure that nobody is on the loose and we’re positive that only three people were involved in the entire incident, we’re sure that everything its safe to go back home,” Oller said.

Oller said it all started when three white men stole a vehicle in Callaway County from a government building Wednesday.

Then around 2:20 p.m., the three men reportedly robbed the Martinsburg Bank and Trust in Audrain County.

About half an hour later, a Montgomery County deputy spotted the car on Highway 161 and started a lengthy chase.

The suspects fired several shots at officers during the car chase, according to Oller.

The suspects eventually crashed the car into a home in Montgomery City. They got out of the car, starting a foot chase and reportedly fired at officers again.

Two suspects were taken into custody shortly after.

Following a lengthy standoff, the third suspect was found dead inside an empty home in the area of Sixth and Cherry Streets.

One nearby resident said he saw it all happen from his front yard.

“I was standing outside when I seen a helicopter flying around,” the resident, who did not want to be identified, said. “And then I heard the sirens and a red car coming up the road, and it hit this house and they jumped out. And as they jumped out, there was shots fired. Two went running behind the house. One went over a car.”

Officers evacuated about a dozen homes in the area of the standoff, according to Montgomery City Police Chief David Turner. Residents were allowed to return to their homes around 9:00 p.m.

The two surviving suspects could face multiple possible charges, according to Oller. The Audrain County Sheriff’s Office asked the FBI to handle all charges related to the bank robbery.