Three days before going to trial, Daniel G. Campbell decided to enter a guilty plea to a 2016 murder southwest of Licking.
Campbell, who also wounded another man in the shooting, received two consecutive life sentences plus 15 years Friday during an appearance in Texas County Circuit Court, according to Texas County Prosecutor Parke Stevens Jr. Campbell’s case had been set for trial on a change of venue in Maries County.
Campbell, 39, admitted the felonies of second-degree murder, first-degree assault and armed criminal action on Oct. 25, 2016, near Boiling Springs when he shot his unsuspecting neighbors, Billy Bishop and William Dumboski multiple times with two different firearms. The shots killed Bishop. Dumboski survived the gunshot wounds.
Campbell shot both with 9mm and .38-caliber firearms, Stevens said.
After the shootings, Campbell eluded authorities for three days until he was apprehended without incident inside Faith and Hope Church between Success and licking. Upon questioning, he
admitted he committed the crime, Stevens said.
A grand jury later indicted Campbell. The following month, he ran out of a propped open door at the jail and was apprehended about 70 hours later. Campbell later was sent to prison on tampering with a motor vehicle charge after already being on probation.
“This is an individual who has committed the most egregious crime possible and has been punished for his actions,” said Stevens. “Two consecutive life sentences in the Missouri Department of Corrections ensure the defendant will likely never hurt anyone else.”
Circuit Judge John D. Beger presided over the guilty plea and sentencing.
Stevens expressed his sorrow for the family and friends of Bishop and Dumboski and hopes their grieving is lessened now that Campbell has been punished.
Stevens also thanked law enforcement, the judge and defense counsel.
“This is an individual who has committed the most egregious crime possible and has been punished for his actions,” said Texas County Prosecutor Parke Stevens.