Four face charges stemming from shooting murder of Willard couple

Charges brought against couple who allegedly high tailed it to California following double murder
 
Four people are facing charges stemming from the murder of Alexander Chute and Brianna Sproul, a Willard couple who was found dead at their residence in the early morning hours of Saturday, Nov. 14.
Chute’s ex-wife Theresa Elizabeth Cox, Duncan “Mixxi” James Bogle, Matthew Dewayane Plumb and his biological son Therin Rhyle Plumb, all of Springfield, are in custody and facing charges ranging from first-degree murder to tampering with physical evidence. As of press time, Cox and Bogle were being held in San Francisco on fugitive felony warrants after being apprehended on Tuesday, Dec. 8, while Matthew and Therin Plumb were being held in the Greene County Jail.
Cox, 27, is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and two counts of armed criminal action, while Bogle, 20, her “significant partner,” is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and second-degree child endangerment.
Matthew Plumb, 43, is charged with first degree murder, second degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and tampering with physical evidence, while Therin Plumb, 18, is charged with tampering with physical evidence.
Probable cause describes events
According to the probable cause statement in the case, Chute and Sproul were found dead in their residence after a Willard Police officer responded to a “shots fired” call. A fully-loaded .40-caliber Glock 27 was found near Chute’s hand, and an empty holster was on his belt.
Eight shell casings were collected at the scene. Another Willard officer who lived near the residence checked his surveillance system and found it had captured sounds at 1:21 a.m. that morning consistent with 10 gunshots. Chute had been scheduled to work until midnight the night before, but left at 11 p.m. after reportedly telling a co-worker that Cox was at his residence and Sproul was there by herself.
Four-year-old found unharmed
A four-year-old girl, the biological daughter of Chute and Cox, was found in the residence unharmed and turned over to the Department of Social Service’s Children’s Division. An investigator with the Children’s Division told Willard Police that there was an active investigation regarding allegations of sexual abuse made against Chute by Cox. A Children’s Division Safety Plan, dated Oct. 14, was found in Chute’s residence; it indicated the girl would stay with Chute.
Eight 911 calls
According to the probable cause statement, there were eight 911 calls for service at Cox’s residence between June 7 and Nov. 3. On the first call, Chute reported that Cox refused to give him his daughter. Five more calls were made to report physical and sexual abuse by DFS or the Children’s Division, though it was not clear who was being accused of the abuse. Cox called twice, once about a custody issue; she also called on Nov. 3 to report her handgun had been stolen from her car.
Investigators met Cox and Bogle on Nov. 18 at the Greene County Juvenile Courthouse, where Cox had a scheduled court hearing. Both declined to speak with the investigators, but Cox’s phone was seized, and Bogle handed his over to the investigators. Further investigation revealed that Cox purchased a 9mm pistol during a gun show on Oct. 11; a search of Cox’s residence turned up a gun safe, a loaded Smith & Wesson 9 mm magazine, ammunition with the same headstamp as the casings found at the crime scene, and packaging and a receipt for a new LG flip phone consistent with the phone Bogle relinquished.
Possibly incriminating text messages
A search of text messages between Cox and Bogle’s phone showed that Cox sent Bogle a text on Tuesday, Nov. 10, stating “Change in plans possibly for Friday.” Bogle texted her back to ask if she was sure, and she said she needed to talk to him about it. On Thursday, Nov. 12, Bogle texted Cox and stated, “I need some time to air out my mind and get into a good place for tomorrow.”
The investigators spoke to an acquaintance of Bogle’s, who said that Bogle had called him on Nov. 13, crying, screaming and hyperventilating; the acquaintance also said Bogle said he didn’t want to kill anyone. The acquaintance stated he told Bogle not to do anything, but Bogle hung up on him and didn’t respond to several text messages.
‘Sometimes people have to die’
After learning about the murder, the acquaintance said, he spoke to Bogle and said “Mixxi, you killed those people,” and Bogle replied, “Sometimes, people have to die.” The acquaintance also said that Bogle met Cox in August, and in September, she began pressuring Bogle to hurt or kill Chute.
Investigators spoke with Matthew Plumb on Monday, Nov. 23. During the interview, Plumb said he knew that Cox was planning to have Chute murdered. Plumb, who was the manager of the Pizza Hut where Cox also worked, said he told Cox that she could report her handgun stolen, something he said he’d done twice in the past. Plumb also reportedly admitted that his part in the murders was to provide Cox with an alibi.
Plumb also told investigators that he suggested that Cox plan the murders for a night when both she and Plumb had to work. Part of the plan was to state that her car was having transmission problems so that she could remain at the restaurant while Duncan Bogle, her significant partner, took her car.
After the murders, Plumb said, Bogle returned to Pizza Hut upset; Cox left in the vehicle, leaving him behind. Plumb said he used a significant portion of his worktime to calm Bogle down and took Bogle home and threw the gun used in the murders in a creek near the Rutledge-Wilson Farm Park. Divers with the Missouri State Highway Patrol recovered the firearm; its serial number matched the gun Cox reported stolen.
‘Helping out a friend’ with an alibi
According to the probable cause statement, Plumb said he received no compensation for his part in the murders; he indicated he was “helping out a friend.”
Plumb also said Cox attempted to recruit Therin to help Bogle in the murders. Investigators interviewed Therin, who said he initially agreed to help in the murders but then changed his mind. When Bogle returned to Pizza Hut, he said, Plumb told him to retrieve the gun from Cox’s car and put it in his (Plumb’s car). Therin told the investigators he found the gun on the passenger’s side back floorboard of Cox’s vehicle. He also admitted that he and his girlfriend were present when Plumb disposed of the firearm.
Fundraiser for young girl begins
One of Sproul and Chute’s co-workers in the National Guard, Ellen Baker Baum, has started “Sophie Strong,” a t-shirt fundraiser meant to benefit Chute’s daughter. The t-shirts, which have “Sophie Strong” written on them, along with Chute and Sproul’s names, are selling at prices from $15 to $19.65, depending on size. Baum said all money raised from T-shirt sales will go into a trust fund for the girl. For more information, visit the “Sophie Strong” page on Facebook, or e-mail Baum at ellenrb72@gmail.com.