Father charged in connection with child’s accidental shooting death

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Moberly man was charged last week following the accidental shooting death of an 11-year-old girl in January.

Michael Timmons is charged with five counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child creating substantial risk. The probable cause statement states that he was in another state at the time of the shooting.

Deputies reported finding unsanitary conditions throughout the home where the five children were living.

Court documents state that the children reported to deputies that Timmons was only home for a couple of weeks or months at a time. It added that the home would be in the same condition as when he was home. He would only clean the kitchen table when he used it.

Deputies found piles of trash, feces and dirty dishes throughout the home. The home was also infested with cockroaches, according to the probable cause statement.

His wife, Jo Timmons, was charged in February with five counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, including one resulting in a child's death.

Ammunition was found in the drawer of a dresser in a room that deputies said belonged to Michael Timmons and a redacted name. A probable cause statement for Jo Timmons states that this was the bedroom she shared with her husband, also redacted.

A cockroach-infested shotgun was also found on the wall of a hallway, the deputy wrote. Interviewers with witnesses also claimed a handgun found in another bedroom was “not always kept secure,” court documents say.

Deputies said a witness reported the conditions of the house in January were consistent with conditions while living with the couple from August to the end of December.

As of Monday morning, Michael Timmons was not in custody at the Randolph County jail.

Jo Timmons is being held at the Randolph County Jail. A bond hearing is set for April 8.