Two face murder charges in Cabool man’s death
Two persons face second-degree murder charges in the death Friday of a Cabool man who died from an assault in Willow Springs, authorities said.
Charged are Jason D. Ballinger, 26, of Mountain Grove, and Larry Davis, 49, of Willow Springs. Ballinger was arrested in Cabool at the apartment of a girlfriend, who earlier had denied he was there. Davis was found at a Mountain Grove motel.
Dead is Charles Rex Elliott, 44, who was spotted by a Willow Springs policeman.
The officer, Bryan Hogan, said he found false teeth in a pool of blood about 20 feet from the injured man. Blood was splattered up to 60 feet from Elliott, who he reported had numerous head injuries. Elliott was flown to Ozarks Medical Center in West Plains and later transferred to a Springfield hospital, where he died.
Hogan said Ballinger told officers Elliott had tried to stab him with a knife outside a Willow Springs bar, which resulted in puncture wounds and cuts. Hogan said he found a small cut on Ballinger’s midsection.
Hogan said Ballinger told officers he punched Elliott in the face until he dropped the knife, and then Davis held Elliott while he continued to punch him. Ballinger said he saw Davis kick Elliott numerous times about the face, head and body, according to Hogan’s report.