Gasconade County man accused of killing man living in his garage, dumping body in river

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Gasconade County man was charged last week after investigators accused him of killing a man who had been living in his garage in 2018.

Daniel W. Russell was charged Thursday with first-degree murder, abandonment of a corpse and evidence tampering. The case had been sealed until this week.

The Gasconade County Sheriff's Office said on Monday that Russell has been arrested in eastern Missouri in the death of Michael A. Graham of Georgia. Graham's remains were found in a plastic barrel lodged next to a boat ramp at the river access in Gasconade in early 2019, a few months after he was reported missing. Investigators later confirmed the remains were those of Graham.

A probable cause statement says a witness told investigators that Russell enlisted their help to move a foul-smelling barrel from his garage in September 2018. Russell allegedly told the witness that he killed Graham and put him in the barrel with concrete.

Missouri State Highway Patrol divers found the barrel in April 2019, and a chunk of the concrete in the barrel matched concrete found in Russell's garage, according to the statement.

The witness also allegedly told investigators that Russell's wife said she had seen Graham dead, apparently struck in the head with an object.

Activity on Graham's social media account stopped in May 2018, and changes emerged in spending patterns associated with his Social Security checks, the statement says. Investigators allegedly traced the spending back to Russell and his family.

The victim's personal belongings were found during a search of Russell's residence, according to the statement.

Russell denied having a part in Graham's death when questioned, saying Graham had driven away and had not returned, according to the statement.

Russell's arraignment is set for Wednesday morning.