Woman accused of shooting, killing boyfriend in Morgan County

VERSAILLES, Mo. (KMIZ)

Prosecutors charged a Versailles woman Saturday with second-degree murder in the shooting death of her boyfriend.

Tracia Caruso, 57, is accused of shooting and killing Dennis Seybold, 65, late Friday in the 9300 block of McCasland Road. Caruso told investigators that Seybold had tried to strangle her and that she shot him in self-defense, according to court documents.

But investigators say there was no evidence of injuries to her throat after she was checked at a hospital.

Caruso told investigators that Seybold tried to strangle her as she was trying to sleep in the couple's tent, according to a probable cause statement. She got out of the tent and grabbed a pistol so Seybold couldn't get it, according to the statement.

Seybold approached Caruso and she thought he would kill her, Caruso allegedly told investigators, so she shot him. Investigators say she smelled like alcohol when they spoke with her after the shooting.

Caruso was jailed without bond. No lawyer was identified in online court records.