A man in Missouri is currently incarcerated for allegedly causing his estranged wife to be thrown off the road and into a creek.
The victim’s family members allege that the reason for his arrest is that she was scheduled to testify against him in an impending rape trial.
On accusations of second-degree murder, armed criminal action, and child neglect, Donald A. Pierce Jr., 45, is currently being held in custody at the Franklin County Jail. Pierce was operating a borrowed 2009 Chevy Impala when he pursued a 1999 Ford Explorer, which was being operated by his estranged wife Jody Pierce, 41, off Oak Grove Church Road in Franklin County, as indicated by a probable cause affidavit.
The Explorer was discovered “overturned off the roadway and submerged in a creek” by highway patrol officers who responded to calls of a mishap at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The affidavit stated that Jody Pierce was declared deceased at the site. She was the estranged wife of Pierce, according to KMOV, a local CBS outlet. The couple had been living apart for three months, according to a relation who recently informed the station that Jody Pierce had returned to the area to celebrate her daughter’s birthday.
The victim’s cousin also informed the station that she was preparing to testify in Donald Pierce’s impending rape trial and that the suspect intended to run her over.
One witness informed investigators that she was conversing with Jody Pierce on the phone at the time of the accident and that Jody Pierce had informed her that she was being pursued by Donald Pierce. The affidavit stated that Donald Pierce’s cell phone was subsequently recovered at the scene near Jody Pierce’s vehicle, and two witnesses reported seeing him at the scene and inside the Impala.
Pierce subsequently returned the vehicle to its owner, who was also located in Franklin County. The owner informed investigators that Pierce had informed her that he had been involved in a collision. The witness stated that Pierce subsequently departed her residence and was transported by a “unknown individual.”
Donald Pierce approached the vehicle and “jumped through the front passenger side window and began verbally abusing” Jody Pierce, according to another eyewitness. Jody Pierce had left her off at her residence at approximately 4 p.m. that day.
According to the witness, Pierce returned to the Impala a few moments later and attempted to obstruct Jody Pierce’s vehicle in the driveway “in an effort to persuade [Jody Pierce] to engage in conversation.”
Donald Pierce allegedly pursued Jody Pierce “in a reckless manner, cutting directly in front of” her car after she was able to ultimately exit the driveway.
On Sunday, Pierce was apprehended. He allegedly confessed to investigators that he was “actively pursuing” Jody Pierce when she collapsed, as per the affidavit. However, he denied striking her car with the Impala just before the crash and claimed that he “jumped in the water to try to save [Jody Pierce], but could not do anything.”
Furthermore, the affidavit notes that Pierce “said he never called 911 or contacted law enforcement in relation to the incident.”
Pierce has a hearing in the homicide case scheduled for Wednesday, according to court records.