Cole County man accused of killing his girlfriend posts $25,000 bond
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Jefferson City man accused of killing his girlfriend on Nov. 27 has posted bond.
Joshua Wilbers, 23, is accused of shooting and killing Hallie Phillips, 20. He is charged with first-degree manslaughter and armed criminal action. A $25,000 bond was set after Wilbers' attorney argued he is not a risk to the community or a flight risk.
Wilbers posted bond on Friday, Dec. 2. The next hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at the Cole County Circuit Court.
Deputies were sent Nov. 27 to the 9000 block of Century Farms Road for a report of an accidental shooting, where they found Phillips injured. Phillips was lying on the ground unconscious outside the trailer the couple shared, according to a probable cause statement.
Wilbers told investigators that he was going outside to shoot his new .22-caliber rifle when it went off inside the house, hitting Phillips in the face, according to the statement. Wilbers carried her outside meaning to load her in a car and drive to the hospital but decided to call 911 instead, the statement says.
Evidence at the scene and home security video corroborated his story, according to the statement. Phillips died of her injuries Nov. 29 at University Hospital.
Phillips was a junior studying animal science at the University of Missouri. A celebration of life service for Phillips is set for 3-8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15 at the Capital Bluffs Event Center.
