A Winona man admitted to authorities he shot and killed two men Wednesday night in southern Texas County, then set the residence on fire.
Jonathan Wayne Foster, 25, has been charged with multiple felony accounts, including first-degree murder and arson, following his arrest Thursday morning by law enforcement. He is also charged with two counts of armed criminal action, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, stealing and stealing a motor vehicle.
Foster was apprehended at a Doniphan residence by the Ripley County Sheriff’s Department. He is being held at the Texas County Jail without bond.
Authorities were dispatched to 2285 Curran Road after multiple fire departments, responding to a house fire shortly after 9 p.m., suspected foul play. James Winton, 37, was discovered just outside the residence. A second man, Doug Dearman, 42, was located a short distance from the house across a barbed wire fence.
Texas County Coroner Tom Whitaker said both victims’ bodies received burn damage and underwent DNA testing to confirm their identities. Both men lived at the residence.
In a probable cause statement, Foster told authorities he received a ride to the Curran Road residence. He said he shot the victims with a 22-caliber rifle and also struck one man in the head with a heavy object. Foster then stole $1,500 cash and a 2005 Chevrolet pickup from the residence and fled.
Authorities said Foster admitted to several people he had committed the murders and set the residence on fire. He also told them he burned an expensive truck, which was later discovered east of Birch Tree by the Shannon County Sheriff’s Department. It was the truck stolen from the residence.
The Texas County Sheriff’s Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol and State Fire Marshal’s office led the investigation. They were assisted by other sheriff’s departments in the region, multiple fire departments and the conservation department.